How to Install and Configure DNS in Windows Server

Before we can proceed further to DNS configuration, first we should understand what is DNS?

DNS is simply a database that links meaningful names ‘known as host names’, such as https://geekOmad.com, to a specific IP address, such as 192.168.125.1.

Linking addresses to names is just the beginning, because DNS has many more features in addition to host-name-to-address mapping.

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The Active Directory Installation wizard provides to install DNS if the wizard does not detect a proper DNS zone configuration during the installation of Active Directory. However, you can do it manually yourself. Many bug reports have been submitted regarding installation bases that relied on the wizard. And also Active Directory Installation wizard does not install a reverse lookup zone unlike manual installation.

1. Click Start –> Settings –> Control Panel.

2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs and then click Add/Remove Windows Components.

3. In Components, select Networking Services and then click Details.

4. In Subcomponents of Networking Services, select the Domain Name System (DNS) check box, click OK, and then click Next.

5. In Copy Files From, type the full path to the Windows 2000 distribution files and then click OK.

For hosting Active Directory, we have to properly configure DNS with a zone for the Active Directory namespace. You should create both zone types for a proper DNS implementation for your Active Directory namespace — that is, a “forward lookup zone” and a “reverse lookup zone”.

 

1. Click Start –> Programs –> Administrative Tools –> DNS.

2. Expand the DNS server.

3. Right-click the Forward Lookup Zone folder and choose New Zone.

4. Click Next to continue when the New Zone wizard appears.

5. Ensure that Standard Primary is selected and click Next.

6. Ensure that Forward Lookup Zone is selected and click Next.

7. At the New Zone page, type the name of your zone (for example, geekomad.com) and click Next.

8. Select Create a New File With This File Name and click Next.

9. Click Finish.

 

1. Click Start –> Programs –> Administrative Tools –> DNS.

2. Expand the DNS server.

3. Right-click your server and choose New Zone.

4. Click Next to continue when the New Zone wizard appears.

5. Ensure that Standard Primary is selected and click Next.

6. Ensure that Reverse Lookup Zone is selected and click Next.

7. Ensure that Network ID is selected, type your network ID in the Network ID field, and click Next.

8. Select Create a New File With This File Name and click Next.

9. Click Finish.

For Active Directory purpose, DNS server is ready. You should now configure the forward and reverse lookup zones for dynamic updating so that you do not get stuck creating all the records required for Active Directory yourself.