DOCUMENT:Q234144 06-AUG-2002 [winnt] TITLE :DNS Boot File Directives and Configuration for Windows NT 4.0 PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:winnt:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbenv kbDNS ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY ======= Windows NT 4.0 Domain Name System (DNS) supports the directives (or commands) listed in this article. You can use these directives in a boot file in the %SystemRoot%\System32\DNSfile folder or in the EnableRegistryBoot registry key to start DNS with the settings you want. The boot file specifies the startup parameters for DNS. Directives must start at the beginning of a line with no preceding spaces. The recognized and supports commands are: cache primary secondary forwarders slave options NOTE: Support for the directory directive was removed after the "DNS and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0" white paper was published. This directive is no longer supported as referenced by the white paper. NOTE: Support for the options directive, which is not listed in the "DNS and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0" white paper, is available with Service Pack 4 or later for Windows NT 4.0. MORE INFORMATION ================ Cache ----- Specifies a cache file used to help the DNS service contact a name server for the ROOT domain. This command and the file it refers to must be present. A cache file suitable for use on the Internet is provided with the Windows NT 4.0 DNS service. Syntax: cache . Example: cache . cache.dns A cache file contains host information that is needed to resolve names outside the authoritative domains and contains names and addresses of root name servers. The Windows NT 4.0 DNS service provides a default cache file containing name server information for the ROOT domain on the Internet. By default, this file is located in the %SystemRoot%\System32\DNS folder. This is sufficient for users on the Internet. For installations not connected to the Internet, modify the file to contain the name servers authoritative for the root of your private networks. A current Internet cache file is available at: ftp://rs.internic.net/domain/named.cache Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information. Primary ------- Specifies a domain for which this name server is authoritative and a database file that contains the resource records for that domain (that is a zone file). Multiple "primary" command records could exist in the boot file. Syntax: primary Examples: primary microsoft.com microsoft.com.dns primary PSS.microsoft.com pss.microsoft.com.dns Secondary --------- Specifies a domain for which this name server is authoritative, and a list of master server IP addresses from which to attempt downloading the zone information, rather than reading it from a file. It also defines the name of the local file for caching this zone. Multiple "secondary" command records could exist in the boot file. Syntax: secondary Examples: secondary BP.microsoft.com 120.120.120.1 bp.microsoft.com.dns secondary BOS.microsoft.com 130.130.130.1 bos.microsoft.com.dns Forwarders ---------- Specifies another server that is willing to try resolving recursive queries on behalf of the system. Syntax: forwarders Example: forwarders 120.120.120.1 130.130.130.1 Slave ----- Specifies that the use of forwarders is the only possible way to resolve queries. This can only follow a forwarders directive. Syntax: slave Example: forwarders 120.120.120.1 130.130.130.1 slave Options ------- Specifies optional configuration parameters. Currently, the only "option" directive supported with the boot file is: no-recursion. Non-recursion specifies that the DNS name server sends non-recursive queries to other name servers. Syntax: options no-recursion Example: options no-recursion The Boot File ------------- The boot file is a BIND-specific implementation and is not a requirement of the IETF RFCs. This feature is provided for easy migration from BIND-based DNS servers. For more information about configuring the DNS server to boot from a boot file, see the "EnableRegistryBoot" and "BootMethod" sections in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article: Q198408 Microsoft DNS Server Registry Parameters, Part 1 of 3 Although the DNS white paper still lists the directory directive, this directive is not supported. If you use the directory directive in the boot file, the following event is recorded in the Event log, stating that an unsupported directory directive was used: DNS Parsing Error REFERENCES ========== The "DNS and Microsoft Windows NT 4.0" white paper is available at: ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-docs/papers/dnswp.exe Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbenv kbDNS Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 Version : winnt:4.0 Issue type : kbinfo ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.