New to DNS Server

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jason
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J

Jason

I am new to DNS Server and just set up my first Windows Server that is
connecting to a couple of workstations.

I have already created a forward Zone. I would like to know what is the
Reverse Zone and is it necessary for me to create it ? What is the benefit
of using the reverse lookup ?

Thanks
 
The best way I could descrive it is like this.

Forward look up zone resolves names to ip addresses.

A reverse lookup zone resolves IP address to Names.

i.e.

If you were to do an nslookup for 10.10.0.30 but you don't have a reverse
lookup zone then it won't work. Howerver lets say that same ip address is the
address of a server called server1, well if you did a nslookup for server1 it
would return 10.10.0.30

Its the same thing just backwards. On the internet some email servers will
not accept email unless they can do a reverse look up and confirm that the IP
can be resolved to a name.

Hope this helps.
 
In
Jason said:
I am new to DNS Server and just set up my first Windows Server that is
connecting to a couple of workstations.

I have already created a forward Zone. I would like to know what is
the Reverse Zone and is it necessary for me to create it ? What is
the benefit of using the reverse lookup ?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Some applications require a reverse zone. For the most part in a private
network, unless there is a specific app that requires a reverse zone,
there's really no absolute need.

When you are using nslookup, when it initializes, it will attempt to give
you the FQDN of your DNS address configured in your IP properties. It looks
in the reverse zone. If you don't have a reverse zone, it will give you that
familiar "can't ind server name for IP blah" message. It can be ignored, but
if it bothers you, create a reverse zone.

In Win2003, there is an SPNEgo error (Event ID 40961) that can result if
there is no reverse zone.

Email on the internet if being checked for reverse entries is important. But
that reverse zone is based on the ISP's since they own the public IP block
and you would have to request a PRT for your mail server. Internally it has
nothing to do with it.

I hope that helps.

--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies ONLY to the Microsoft public newsgroups
so all can benefit.

This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties or guarantees
and confers no rights.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2003 & 2000, MCSA 2003 & 2000, MCSE+I, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Windows Server - Directory Services
Infinite Diversities in Infinite Combinations.
=================================
 
I am new to DNS Server and just set up my first Windows Server
that is
connecting to a couple of workstations.

I have already created a forward Zone. I would like to know
what is the
Reverse Zone and is it necessary for me to create it ? What
is the benefit
of using the reverse lookup ?

Thanks
Click to expand...

If you are only concerned about AD because you are using it, then AD
only needs a Forward lookup zone. It does not require a Reverse Lookup
Zone.

Most of the time Reverse Lookup Zones are used for security purposes
 
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