Domain Name System (DNS)

To access Internet resources by user-friendly domain names rather than these IP addresses, users need a system that translates these domain names to IP addresses and back. This translation is the primary task of an engine called the Domain Name System (DNS).


The two primary software components of DNS are the name server and the resolver.The primary functions of the name server are to host the database (called the zone file) containing domain information and to provide responses to name resolution queries through authoritative responses or referrals.The primary function of the resolver software is to formulate a name resolution query or series of queries.

The primary DNS data is the zone file.The zone file contains information about various resources in that zone. The information about each resource is represented in a record called a resource record (RR). Because a zone may contain several domains and several types of resources within each domain, the format of each RR contains fields for making this identification.

Installing and Configuring DNS

The Active Directory Installation wizard offers to install DNS.
(Keep in mind that the Active Directory Installation wizard does not install a reverse lookup zone).
HOW TO CONFIGURE DNS FOR ACTIVE DIRECTORY
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.
To host Active Directory, you must configure DNS with a zone for the Active Directory namespace. You should create both zone types for a proper DNS implementation that is, a forward lookup zone and a reverse lookup zone. Read on to discover how.

Creating a forward lookup zone

To create a forward lookup zone:
1. Click Start --> Programs --> Administrative Tools --> DNS.
Windows 2000 launches the DNS Microsoft Management Console, from which you can perform your DNS administration.
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.
The wizard takes the pain out of DNS administration.
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, fordummies.com) and click Next.
8. Select Create a New File With This File Name and click Next.
9. Click Finish.

Creating a reverse lookup zone

To create a reverse lookup zone:
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.

As far as Active Directory is concerned, your DNS server is almost ready