PRB: NSLOOKUP Shows No IP Address for a Domain Name (201499)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft BackOffice Server 4.0
  • Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server 4.0
  • Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server 4.0a
  • Microsoft BackOffice Small Business Server 4.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0

This article was previously published under Q201499

SYMPTOMS

When you use NSLOOKUP to get information about a domain name, you only get the domain name back and no IP address.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because there is usually no IP address associated directly to a domain name. IP addresses are usually associated to hosts inside the domain.

RESOLUTION


You can do the following to work around this problem:

Contact the administrator of the DNS server responsible for the domain in question. Ask them to add an "A" record for the domain name to that domain's zone file.

If the DNS server is a computer running Windows NT Server, simply create an "A" record in the appropriate zone, leaving the Host Name edit box empty while providing an appropriate IP address.

To create an "A" record in the appropriate zone, follow these steps:
  1. Start Domain Name Service Manager.
  2. Right-click your domain name, and then click New Record.
  3. In the Record Type list, click A Record.
  4. Leave the Host Name box blank.
  5. Type the IP address you want to associate with the domain name.
  6. Click OK.
NOTE: You cannot add this record if you right-click the domain name and then click New Host. You must click New Record.

You will now see an entry in the zone file with the name of the domain in the (Host) Name column and the specified IP address in the Data column.

At the NSLOOKUP prompt, typing the zone name will now list the IP address along with the domain name.

Example (at the NSLOOKUP Prompt):

>Khalsa.example.microsoft.com

Default Server: MyServer.example.microsoft.com

Address: 10.0.0.2

Name: Khalsa.example.microsoft.com

Address: 192.168.111.1

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/14/2003
Keywords:kbprb KB201499