Initiate a zone transfer at a secondary server

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To initiate a zone transfer at a secondary server

  • Using the Windows interface

  • Using a command line

Using the Windows interface

  1. Open DNS.

  2. In the console tree, right-click the applicable zone and click Transfer from master.

Notes

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.

  • To open DNS, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click DNS.

  • This procedure checks to see if the start of authority (SOA) resource record in the secondary zone is the most recent version of the SOA resoure record in the primary zone. If the SOA resource records are synchronized, then there is no zone transfer. If the SOA resource records are not synchronized, then there is a zone transfer.

  • By default, the DNS server will only allow a zone transfer to authoritative DNS servers listed in the name server (NS) resource records for the zone.

Using a command line

  1. Open Command Prompt.

  2. Type:

    dnscmdServerName**/ZoneRefresh**ZoneName

Value Description

dnscmd

Specifies the name of the command-line tool.

ServerName

Required. Specifies the DNS host name of the DNS server. You can also type the IP address of the DNS server. To specify the DNS server on the local computer, you can also type a period (.)

/ZoneRefresh

Required. Updates the secondary zone.

ZoneName

Required. Specifies the name of the secondary zone to update.

Notes

  • To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.

  • To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command prompt.

  • This procedure requires the Dnscmd Windows support tool. For information about installing Windows support tools, see Related Topics.

  • To view the complete syntax for this command, at a command prompt, type:

    dnscmd /ZoneRefresh /help

  • This procedure checks to see if the start of authority (SOA) resource record in the secondary zone is the most recent version of the SOA resoure record in the primary zone. If the SOA resource records are synchronized, then there is no zone transfer. If the SOA resource records are not synchronized, then there is a zone transfer.

  • By default, the DNS server will only allow a zone transfer to authoritative DNS servers listed in the name server (NS) resource records for the zone.

Formatting legend

Format Meaning

Italic

Information that the user must supply

Bold

Elements that the user must type exactly as shown

Ellipsis (...)

Parameter that can be repeated several times in a command line

Between brackets ([])

Optional items

Between braces ({}); choices separated by pipe (|). Example: {even|odd}

Set of choices from which the user must choose only one

Courier font

Code or program output

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.

See Also

Concepts

Add a secondary server for an existing zone
Using secondary servers
Specify other DNS servers as authoritative for a zone
Install Windows Support Tools