Configuring and Managing DNS Clients

When you configure DNS clients, you must specify a list of DNS servers for clients to use when resolving DNS names. You can also specify a DNS suffix search list to be used by the clients when performing DNS query searches for short, unqualified domain names.

Figure 3.9 shows the process for configuring and managing DNS clients.

Figure 3.9: Configuring and Managing DNS Clients

Configuring Client DNS Server Lists and Suffix Search Lists

Configure your clients' DNS server lists and suffix search list by including at least two DNS server IP addresses on the clients and domain controllers: the IP address for a preferred server and the IP address for an alternate server. Use a server running in the local site for the preferred server. The alternate server can be running in either a local or a remote site.

The DNS suffix search list is populated based on the primary DNS suffix of the client and any connection-specific DNS suffixes. The client uses these suffixes to try to resolve unqualified names. You can modify the DNS suffix search list manually, or by using Group Policy. Limit the size of your suffix search list if you can, because a large suffix search list increases network traffic.

Using Group Policy to Simplify Client Configuration

Windows Server 2003 includes a new set of Group Policy settings to simplify the rollout of Windows Server 2003 DNS clients. You can use them to set your suffix search lists, dynamic update configuration, and many other settings. As with all Group Policy settings, you can specify different settings based on site, domain, or OU.

For more information about these Group Policy settings, see the Networking Guide of the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit (or see the Networking Guide on the Web at http://www.microsoft.com/reskit).