DNS Resource Records in Windows 2003
It all started with Host records. In the beginning there were just flat text files with a list of servers and corresponding IP addresses. When that got cumbersome and a pain to update, a proper database called DNS (Domain Name System) was invented by Paul Mockapetris in 1983.
Since then the DNS types of records have grown, here is list:
Type of Record | What it does |
A (Host) | Classic resource record. Maps hostname to IP |
PTR | Maps IP to hostname (Reverse of A (Host) Found in Reverse Lookup Zone |
CName | Canonical name, in plain English an alias. |
NS | Identifies DNS name servers. Important for forwarders |
MX | Mail servers, particularly for other domains. MX records required to deliver internet email. |
_SRV and _MSDCS | Required for Active Directory. Whole family of underscore service records, for example, gc = global catalog. dc = domain controller. |
SOA | Make a point of finding the Start of Authority (SOA) tab at the DNS Server. |
Custom / Special | It is possible to create more records in the DNS manager. However I would only do this in extreme circumstance, e.g. Following a TechNet article. |
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Purpose of Resource Records
Without resource records DNS could not resolve queries. The mission of a DNS Query is to locate a server that is Authoritative for a particular domain. The easy part is for the Authoritative server to check the name in the query against its resource records.
Summary
Take the time to investigate DNS Resource Records. Understand which are created automatically, for example _SRV records, and which you need to create yourself, for example MX records for Exchange.
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Related DNS Server topics
- New Features for DNS in Windows Server 2003
- DNS – Names & Namespace
- Types of DNS Zone
- Conditional Forwarding
- Installing DNS Server
- DNS Queries
- Root Hints
- Resource Records
- DNS Naming Rules
- Basic DNS Server Troubleshooting
- Advanced DNS Troubleshooting
- Debug Logging for DNS in Windows Server 2003
- DNSLint – Utility
