Microsoft KB Archive/194513

= The Structure of a Domain Name System Boot File =

Article ID: 194513

Article Last Modified on 10/26/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

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This article was previously published under Q194513



SUMMARY
This article discusses the structure and functionality of a boot file within the Domain Name System (DNS) schema. The first file in a DNS server is the boot file. However, the boot file is not defined in the Request for Comments (RFCs) and is not needed for a DNS server to be RFC compliant. Boot files are actually a part of the Berkeley Internet Name Domain (BIND) implementation of DNS. Boot files determine the startup behavior for DNS servers that incorporate the BIND specifications. A Microsoft Windows 2000 DNS server is compatible with the BIND implementation that supports the use of boot files.

Background Information
A Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 DNS server is compatible with the BIND implementation that supports the use of boot files. However, once the DNS server initializes and the primary zone is created, the information in the boot file is migrated into the registry. Therefore, whenever the DNS server service is initialized on the network, the boot information is read from the registry. The original boot file is copied to a backup folder after it is migrated into the registry. The backup folder is located in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Dns folder.



MORE INFORMATION
You can configure the Windows 2000 DNS service to start from a boot file, rather than from the registry. This option includes the ability to manage the zone from DNS Manager even when you start from the boot file. It is also possible to use the registry for items (such as Notify Lists) that cannot be specified in the boot file. Under Windows 2000, DNS can start using the following methods: boot file, registry boot, or directory services boot. You can modify these methods in the properties of the server in the DNS Manager.

The boot file contains the following default parameters:

Directory
This parameter specifies a directory where other files that are referred to in the boot file can be found. This parameter is not needed if additional files are not referenced in the boot file.

Syntax : directory

Example: directory c:\winnt\system32\dns

Cache
This parameter specifies a file that allows the DNS service to contact name servers for the root domain. This parameter is required where the boot file is used, and the file it refers to must be present. A cache file (Cache.dns) suitable for use on the Internet is provided with Windows 2000.

Syntax : cache

Example: cache cache.dns

Primary
This parameter specifies a domain for which this name server is authoritative and a database file that contains the resource records for that domain (a zone file on the DNS server computer). Multiple instances of this parameter can exist in a boot file, one for each zone for which the server is a primary server.

Syntax : primary

Example: primary domain.com domain.com.dns

primary dev.domain.com dev.domain.com.dns

Secondary
This parameter specifies a domain for which this name server is authoritative, and a list of master server IP addresses from which to download the zone information, rather than from a local file. This parameter also defines the name of the local file to use for caching transferred zone data. Multiple secondary records can exist in the boot file, one for each zone for which the server is a secondary server.

Syntax : secondary

Example: secondary test.domain.com 10.55.200.100 test.domain.com.dns

Forwarders
This parameter specifies another server that can try to resolve recursive queries.

Syntax : forwarders

Example: forwarders 10.55.200.100 10.55.200.101

Slave
This parameter specifies that the use of forwarders is the only possible way to resolve queries. Slave servers can follow only a forwarder's parameter.

Syntax : slave

Example: forwarders 10.55.200.100 10.55.200.101

slave

Additional query words: 5.00

Keywords: kbproductlink kbinfo KB194513

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