DOCUMENT:Q162844 09-AUG-2001 [winnt] TITLE :DNS Resolvers Fail on NetBIOS Names When Using Domain Suffixes PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:winnt:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== Windows Domain Name Service (DNS) resolvers do not return IP addresses for NetBIOS name queries when domain name suffix search order entries are present. CAUSE ===== When the resolver is configured to use domain suffixes, the domain name in TCP/IP properties in the Network tool in Control Panel is ignored. RESOLUTION ========== Add your local domain name to the top of the domain name suffix search order. STATUS ====== This behavior is by design. MORE INFORMATION ================ In Windows NT 4.0, the suffix search order overrides the domain name. When the resolver queries a NetBIOS name, the domain name (as specified in TCP/IP properties in the Network tool in Control Panel) are appended to the requested NetBIOS name, which is sent to the DNS server. For example, when a client is configured with a domain name of "microsoft.com" and the user types "net use \\test\sharename" from a command prompt, a name query for "test.microsoft.com." is sent to the DNS Server. The DNS server (assuming it is the Start of Authority [SOA] for "microsoft.com") then searches for an A record for "test." If the A record exists for "test" in the "microsoft.com" domain, that address is returned to the resolver. However, if the resolver has domain suffixes defined in DNS properties in the Network tool in Control Panel, the "Domain:" entry is ignored. If domain suffixes are defined, the resolver appends the suffixes defined in the domain suffix search order. For example, if the user types "net use \\test\sharename" and the following suffixes are defined .mil .gov .com the DNS resolver queries for test.mil, test.gov, and test.com, instead of appending the domain name and querying for "test.microsoft.com" first. If there is a DNS server with WINS resolution enabled, DNS does not attempt to query WINS because the DNS server in use is probably not the SOA for .mil, .gov, or .com. To correct the problem, add the domain name to the top of the suffix search order, as shown below: .microsoft.com .mil .gov .com Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 Version : winnt:4.0 Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= 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 2001.