Install and Configure DNS on Windows Server 2003

Now that we have Windows Server 2003 patched with SP2 and with an Antivirus, is time to do the preparation to setup active directory for our domain controller in our testing network. you can read about our previous posts here “Free antivirus for windows server 2003“ and “Installing Windows Server 2003 on a VMware server.

Before we run the dcpromo wizard, it is recommended that we setup DNS first to avoid any issue with DNS while setting up active directory. so we will install DNS now.


From your Windows Server 2003 desktop click on Start>Control Panel>Add or Remove Programs:





The add and remove programs window should come up. Click on Add/Remove Windows Components:





The Windows Components Wizard should come up. Scroll down, and select “Network Services” and click on Details:





Check Domain Name System (DNS) from the first option:





Click on OK, and then click on Next in the wizard window. The installation of DNS should start.

if your Server is setup with dynamic IP address, you will get this warning at the middle of the installation:





Click on the OK button. The Local Area Connection Properties window will come up to setup the static IP address.select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click on properties.





The TCP/IP Properties windows will come up. type the IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS. by typing IPconfig /all on the command prompt you can get this information the server is currently using. remember you need to exclude this IP address from the DHCP server on the router:





Click on the OK button. After this, the DNS installation should finish.

Installing and Configuring DNS

The Active Directory Installation wizard offers to install DNS if the wizard does not detect a proper DNS zone configuration during the installation of Active Directory. However, you should not rely on the wizard for these tasks. Many bug reports have been submitted regarding installation bases that relied on the wizard. Also keep in mind that the Active Directory Installation wizard does not install a reverse lookup zone.

The Windows 2000 DNS service can coexist with or migrate other DNS services, including the popular Berkeley Internet Name Domain (BIND) DNS service. One great place to find BIND information is theInternet Software Consortium Web site. To migrate from BIND, you must transfer the BIND zone and boot files to the Microsoft DNS service.

Windows 2000 DNS can also upgrade or coexist with Windows NT 4.0 DNS servers.

For the exam, you should know how to configure DNS for Active Directory. Here is the procedure.

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 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. 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. 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!