DNS Backup

  • Thread starter Thread starter Matt
  • Start date Start date
M

Matt

Greetings,
How do I go about backing DNS up?
I know that I can backup the c:\winnt\syhstem32\dns directory to backup
all the zone files... but how do I backup the actual config for the
MicroSoft DNS server?

I'm cringing as I'm waiting for the responce because I fear it is
'export part of the registry' which isn't going to cut it. How do you
do automated backups (using third part backup and archival tools) that
require delving into the registry? Why is this information not in files?

Anyway... I hope someone can help.. how can I (using third party
archival tools) backup the DNS configuration and NOT just the zone files.
 
Since you've already ruled out the "correct" answer, how about this: setup a
second DNS server and let it duplicate your zones (if AD-integrated) or
manually create secondaries of all your zone (if non-AD-int)

--
Sincerely,

Dèjì Akómöláfé, MCSE MCSA MCP+I
www.akomolafe.com
www.iyaburo.com
Do you now realize that Today is the Tomorrow you were worried about
Yesterday? -anon
 
Deji said:
Since you've already ruled out the "correct" answer, how about this: setup a
second DNS server and let it duplicate your zones (if AD-integrated) or
manually create secondaries of all your zone (if non-AD-int)
Click to expand...
I have a secondary server... but even if the primary dies I still have
to import everything back into it.

So assuming I do the registry route... how do I automate backing that
information up?

~ Matt
 
I have a secondary server... but even if the primary dies I still have
to import everything back into it.
Click to expand...

No you don't. You just switch the Zones to Primary and you are done.

--
Sincerely,

Dèjì Akómöláfé, MCSE MCSA MCP+I
www.akomolafe.com
www.iyaburo.com
Do you now realize that Today is the Tomorrow you were worried about
Yesterday? -anon
 
Deji said:
No you don't. You just switch the Zones to Primary and you are done.
Click to expand...

Right... but then I'm left without a secondary and still have to go
through the new machine and setup all the zones (granted it would be
slightly faster)...

Isn't there a way to automate the backing up of this information???
 
Deji said:
No you don't. You just switch the Zones to Primary and you are done.
Click to expand...
Also,
This isn't exactly acceptable on a DNS server that serves several 100
domains... the time it would take to go through and flop 100 domains
from secondary to primary?? I feel carpel tunnel coming on!

I try to resist Microsoft bashing.. so please don't take it this way...
but WHY OH WHY must Microsoft insist on putting EVERYTHING in the
registry. What is so wrong about putting your dns config into a file
(dns.conf maybe??) that can be moved/backed up/edited with a text
editor??????
 
You could do a system state backup. But it's a backup of the complete
machine - not
only the registry.

Christian
 
You wouldn't belive it, but it's possible to put the configuration in a
file.
It's a setting in the properties of the DNS Server. If you select to store
the config in files, the DNS server stores all Zones and also the boot file
in the Winnt\System32\dns directory.

Christian
 
As Chritian said, it does NOT all HAVE to be in the registry. That aside,
and taking no position whatsoever on "Micro$soft" bashing, there are
actually good tools to do most of the mundane stuffs in windows without
looking at the GUI or clicking. You just need to know what and where they
are.

I once had to reconfigure over 7000 zones on multiple DNS servers for a
project and all I had was dnscmd. dnscmd /zoneresettype in a batch file with
a For loop will do wonders.

--
Sincerely,

Dèjì Akómöláfé, MCSE MCSA MCP+I
www.akomolafe.com
www.iyaburo.com
Do you now realize that Today is the Tomorrow you were worried about
Yesterday? -anon
 
Doesn't your backup software backup the registry also? Any good 3rd
party backup solution should do that.

J T
 
You don't have to flop. That is the reason for primaries and secondaries.
If the primary goes down, you have the secondary running and filling
requests. You then have some number of days to get your primary back up. I
would not recommend using boot file as I don't think it supports all the
options and is not really documented AFAICT. If you must flop, write
yourself a reusable script using dnscmd to export zones, change zone types,
etc.
 
The backup software is running on a secondary server which pulls files.
from the w2k servers. I could argue against your argument, that no
good software should write to the registry =)
 
dnscmd - command not found
I take it it's on the administrative cd? why is it these things don't
get installed by default????
 
Hrmm ok well that's actually what I'm doing already so I guess I'm good
then... for some reason I was under the impression that it was storing
the boot file in the registry.
 
In
Matt said:
dnscmd - command not found
I take it it's on the administrative cd? why is it these things don't
get installed by default????
Click to expand...

Install the Windows Support Tools found in the support folder on the CDROM.

--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies to the newsgroup so all can benefit.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2000, MCSE+I, MCSA, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Active Directory
 
In
Matt said:
The backup software is running on a secondary server which pulls
files. from the w2k servers. I could argue against your
argument, that no
good software should write to the registry =)
Click to expand...

Why not try Dean Well's, MVP, DNSDump utility? It will backup, import and
export all of this for you...

Dean Wells' DNSDump:
http://www.reskit.net/DNS/dnsdump.cm_

(note: there's an undescore at the end of that link.)
Copy and paste that into notepad, rename it to a .CMD file.
/? is your friend...

--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies to the newsgroup so all can benefit.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2000, MCSE+I, MCSA, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Active Directory
 
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