Modify the Start-of-Authority (SOA) Resource Record for a Zone

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

You can use this procedure to change the settings for the start-of-authority (SOA) resource record for a zone. The settings that are applied for the start of authority (SOA) resource record affect how zone transfers are made between servers.

You can perform this procedure by using the DNS Manager snap-in or by using the Dnscmd command-line tool.

Membership in Administrators, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).

Modifying the start-of-authority (SOA) resource record for a zone

  • Using the Windows interface

  • Using a command line

To modify the start-of-authority (SOA) resource record for a zone using the Windows interface

  1. Open DNS Manager. To open DNS Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DNS.

  2. In the console tree, right-click the applicable zone, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the Start of Authority (SOA) tab.

  4. Modify the properties for the start-of-authority (SOA) resource record as needed.

To modify the start-of-authority (SOA) resource record for a zone using a command line

  1. Open a command prompt. To open an elevated Command Prompt window, click Start, point to All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

  2. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    dnscmd <ServerName> /RecordAdd <ZoneName> <NodeName> [/Aging] [<Ttl>] SOA <PrimSvr> <Admin> <Serial#> <Refresh> <Retry> <Expire> <MinTTL>
Value Description

<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 (.)

/RecordAdd

Required. Adds or modifies a resource record.

<ZoneName>

Required. Specifies the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the zone.

<NodeName>

Required. Specifies the FQDN of the node in the DNS namespace for which the start-of-authority (SOA) resource record is added. You can also type the node name relative to the ZoneName, or you can type @, which specifies the zone's root node.

/Aging

Specifies that this resource record is able to be aged and scavenged. If this parameter is not used, the resource record remains in the DNS database unless it is manually updated or removed.

<Ttl>

Specifies the Time to Live (TTL) setting for the resource record. The default TTL is defined in the start-of-authority (SOA) resource record.

SOA

Required. Specifies the type of resource record that you are modifying.

/OpenAcl

Specifies that new records are open to modification by any user. Without this parameter, only administrators may modify the new record.

<PrimSvr>

Required. Specifies the FQDN name of the server that is the primary source for information about the zone, for example, nameserver.place.sales.wingtiptoys.com.

<Admin>

Required. Specifies the name of the DNS administrator for the zone, for example, postmaster.nameserver.place.sales.wingtiptoys.com..

<Serial#>

Required. Specifies the version information for the zone.

<Refresh>

Required. Specifies the refresh interval for the zone. The standard setting is 3600 seconds (one hour).

<Retry>

Required. Specifies the retry interval for the zone. The standard setting is 600 seconds (10 minutes).

<Expire>

Required. Specifies the expire interval for the zone. The standard setting is 86400 seconds (one day).

<MinTTL>

Required. Specifies the minimum TTL value. This is the length of time that is used by other DNS servers to determine how long to cache information for a record in the zone before expiring and discarding it. The standard setting is 3600 seconds (one hour).

Note

To modify any specific start-of-authority (SOA) resource record's values using Dnscmd, you must specify all the start-of-authority (SOA) resource record's values (<PrimSvr> <Admin> <Serial#> <Refresh> <Retry> <Expire> <MinTTL>).