Microsoft KB Archive/919709

= DHCP clients may take a long time to register their names on a DNS server that is running Windows Server 2003 =

Article ID: 919709

Article Last Modified on 11/28/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition

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Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure that you back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry



SYMPTOMS
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) clients may take a long time to register their names on a Domain Name System (DNS) server that is running Microsoft Windows Server 2003. DHCP client names cannot be resolved until their names are successfully registered on a DNS server. Applications that rely on name solution may stop working because of name resolution failure.

This problem occurs if the following conditions are true:
 * A centralized DNS server is configured on a Wide Area Network (WAN). This DNS server owns all DNS zones.
 * Some local cached DNS servers are configured on the local area network (LAN).
 * One or more local DNS servers are configured for every DHCP scope.
 * Many DHCP renewal requests occur because the DHCP clients roam aggressively.



CAUSE
For every DHCP renewal request, the DHCP server puts the name registration request of the DHCP client in a queue. Then, the DHCP server handles the requests one by one. When the DHCP server handles the DHCP client request, the DHCP server has to contact both a local DNS server and the centralized DNS server. This is because the local DNS server does not own DNS zones for every request. Therefore, unnecessary network traffic occurs over the WAN. This traffic delays the resolution of DHCP client requests. If the volume of the DHCP requests is large, it takes a long time for some DHCP clients to register their names.



Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows Server 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and the DHCP component must be installed on the computer.

889100 How to obtain the latest service pack for Windows Server 2003

Restart requirement
You have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Post-installation instructions
Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure that you back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

After you install this hotfix, you must create the  registry key. After you do this, the DHCP server will directly send name registration requests to the correct DNS servers. Network traffic over the WAN decreases. Therefore, the performance of the DHCP server improves.

To create the  registry key, follow these steps:  Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK. Locate and then double-click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dhcp\Parameters

 On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key. Type AlternateDnsServer, and then press ENTER. Right-click AlternateDnsServer, click New, and then click String Value. Type the IP address of the other DNS server as the name of the registry entry, and then press ENTER.

Note Under the new  registry key, you may repeat step 6 to create several registry entries if you have several DNS servers.</li> On the File menu, click Exit to close Registry Editor.</li></ol>

<div class="status_section">

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.

Keywords: kbexpertiseinter kbhotfixserver kbqfe KB919709

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