Root hints reappear after they are removed (818020)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Premium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Standard Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you use DNS Manager or the dnscmd command to delete the last root hint from a Microsoft DNS server, one or more of the deleted root hints may reappear after about 15 minutes. You do not receive a warning that the root hints are not deleted permanently.

Note Microsoft does not support the removal of all root hints from a Microsoft DNS server. A Microsoft DNS server must have at least one root hint. However, you can replace the existing root hints with new root hints. When you replace root hints, the change is permanent, and the old root hints do not reappear. If the DNS server if forwarding, click to select the Do not use recursion for this domain check box on the Forwarders tab in DNS Manager to make sure that the root hints will not be used.

CAUSE

The root hints can be removed permanently and completely by removing the root hints from the DNS Manager, the CACHE.DNS file and from Active Directory. The root hints come back in this scenario is because the root hints still exist in the other two locations (CACHE.DNS file and Active Directory).

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

When a DNS server is not a root server, you must specify root hints in the form of at least one name server (NS) resource record, and you must indicate a root DNS server and a corresponding host (A) resource record for that root DNS server. Otherwise, the DNS server cannot contact the root DNS server on startup and cannot answer queries for names outside its own authoritative zones.

Root hints are a list of the DNS servers on the Internet that your DNS servers can use to resolve queries for names that it does not know. When a DNS server cannot resolve a name query by using its local data, it uses its root hints to send the query to a DNS server. DNS servers that try to locate and to find other DNS servers must have these hints.

To update root hints on the DNS server, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Administrative Tools, and then click DNS.
  2. In the console tree, click the applicable DNS server.
  3. On the Action menu, click Properties.
  4. Click the Root Hints tab.
  5. Use any of the following methods to modify server root hints:
    • To add a root server to the list, click Add, and then specify the name and the IP address of the server that you want to add to the list.
    • To modify a root server in the list, click Edit, and then specify the name and the IP address of the server that you want to modify in the list.
    • To remove a root server from the list, select it in the list, and then click Remove.
    • To copy root hints from a DNS server, click Copy from server, and then specify the IP address of the appropriate DNS server that you want to copy for a list of root servers to use in resolving queries. These root hints will not overwrite any existing root hints.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:2/7/2005
Keywords:kbbug KB818020
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