root hints

nev · Nov 8, 2003

if i right click my dns server and goto root hints only my dns server is
listed ... i think i have misconfigured this part as i seem to remember
root hints had a collection of other things in there

im getting the occasional packet addressed to itself which led me to
believe this is where ive misconfigured

how do i rebuild this section?

Ace Fekay [MVP] · Nov 8, 2003

In

nev said:
if i right click my dns server and goto root hints only my dns server
is listed ... i think i have misconfigured this part as i seem to
remember root hints had a collection of other things in there

im getting the occasional packet addressed to itself which led me to
believe this is where ive misconfigured

how do i rebuild this section?

You must have deleted them. There are 13 Root servers that should show up in
there. Just get a copy of the cache.dns file from another machine or extract
it from the i386 folder, and copy it to:
system32\dns
system32\dns\backup

Then configure a forwarder to the ISP. Make sure you don't use these ISP's
DNS in your IP properties.

--
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

Herb Martin · Nov 9, 2003

Actually that also happens when the "root zone" is created automatically.
Win2000 does this as part of the DCPromo when it creates the DNS
server AND there is no connection to THE Internet (and the Internet root
servers.)

He likely as a "." (root zone) too.

Chances are he needs the article about deleting it (just do it.)

Ace Fekay [MVP] · Nov 9, 2003

In

Herb Martin said:
Actually that also happens when the "root zone" is created
automatically. Win2000 does this as part of the DCPromo when it
creates the DNS
server AND there is no connection to THE Internet (and the Internet
root servers.)

He likely as a "." (root zone) too.

Chances are he needs the article about deleting it (just do it.)

But Herb, if the Root zone exists, the Root Hints tab is grayed out, so how
would it even show up (even just to show his IP)? Unless he's talking about
the Nameservers Tab?

--
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

Herb Martin · Nov 9, 2003

But Herb, if the Root zone exists, the Root Hints tab is grayed out, so
how

would it even show up (even just to show his IP)? Unless he's talking about
the Nameservers Tab?

I didn't know the tab would be grayed out -- I have never actually messed
one up like this <grin>

I only knew about the "Forwarder edit box" being grayed out (but visible.)

Ace Fekay [MVP] · Nov 9, 2003

In

Herb Martin said:
I didn't know the tab would be grayed out -- I have never actually
messed one up like this <grin>

I only knew about the "Forwarder edit box" being grayed out (but
visible.)

You know what I mean. :-)

Yes, the "tab" would be visible!

The "edit box" is grayed out under the tab.

--
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

Michael Johnston [MSFT] · Nov 10, 2003

The root hints on a DNS server should never have itself listed. Check the contents of your cache.dns file in winnt\system32
\dns. It should look like this:
================================
;
; cache.dns -- DNS CACHE FILE
;
; Initial cache data for root domain servers.
;
; YOU SHOULD CHANGE:
; -> Nothing if connected to the Internet. Edit this file only when
; updated root name server list is released.
; OR
; -> If NOT connected to the Internet, remove these records and replace
; with NS and A records for the DNS server authoritative for the
; root domain at your site.
;
; Note, if you are a root domain server, for your own private intranet,
; no cache is required, and you may edit your boot file to remove
; it.
;

;
; This file holds the information on root name servers needed to
; initialize cache of Internet domain name servers
; (e.g. reference this file in the "cache . <file>"
; configuration file of BIND domain name servers).
;
; This file is made available by InterNIC registration services
; under anonymous FTP as
; file /domain/named.root
; on server FTP.RS.INTERNIC.NET
; -OR- under Gopher at RS.INTERNIC.NET
; under menu InterNIC Registration Services (NSI)
; submenu InterNIC Registration Archives
; file named.root
;
; last update: Aug 22, 1997
; related version of root zone: 1997082200
;
;
; formerly NS.INTERNIC.NET
;
. 3600000 IN NS A.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
A.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 3600000 A 198.41.0.4
;
; formerly NS1.ISI.EDU
;
. 3600000 NS B.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
B.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 3600000 A 128.9.0.107
;
; formerly C.PSI.NET
;
. 3600000 NS C.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
C.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 3600000 A 192.33.4.12
;
; formerly TERP.UMD.EDU
;
. 3600000 NS D.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
D.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 3600000 A 128.8.10.90
;
; formerly NS.NASA.GOV
;
. 3600000 NS E.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
E.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 3600000 A 192.203.230.10
;
; formerly NS.ISC.ORG
;
. 3600000 NS F.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
F.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 3600000 A 192.5.5.241
;
; formerly NS.NIC.DDN.MIL
;
. 3600000 NS G.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
G.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 3600000 A 192.112.36.4
;
; formerly AOS.ARL.ARMY.MIL
;
. 3600000 NS H.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
H.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 3600000 A 128.63.2.53
;
; formerly NIC.NORDU.NET
;
. 3600000 NS I.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
I.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 3600000 A 192.36.148.17
;
; temporarily housed at NSI (InterNIC)
;
. 3600000 NS J.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
J.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 3600000 A 198.41.0.10
;
; housed in LINX, operated by RIPE NCC
;
. 3600000 NS K.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
K.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 3600000 A 193.0.14.129
;
; temporarily housed at ISI (IANA)
;
. 3600000 NS L.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
L.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 3600000 A 198.32.64.12
;
; housed in Japan, operated by WIDE
;
. 3600000 NS M.ROOT-SERVERS.NET.
M.ROOT-SERVERS.NET. 3600000 A 202.12.27.33
; End of File

=========================
If this file doesn't look like this, check in the backup directory for the backup copy. If the file appears correct, open Active
Directory Users and computers. Choose View>Advanced Features. Go to the System>MicrosoftDns. Find the
RootDNSServers folder and delete it. Restart the DNS service and root hints should return to normal.

Thank you,
Mike Johnston
Microsoft Network Support
--

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nev · Nov 10, 2003

In

You know what I mean. Yes, the "tab" would be visible!

The "edit box" is grayed out under the tab.

... thanks for the pointers ... i did delete the other items in the
root hints section and i dont have a '.' zone and have been using
forwarders ... i just cant remember why i deleted the other items in the
root hints section, must have been having 'one of those days!'

Ace Fekay [MVP] · Nov 10, 2003

YOu can copy what Michael posted into a file and call it cache.dns and
replace your existing (empty) one or you can extract it from the i386 as I
previously mentioned to get it back.
:-)

--
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

doobr1e · Nov 11, 2003

YOu can copy what Michael posted into a file and call it cache.dns and
replace your existing (empty) one or you can extract it from the i386 as I
previously mentioned to get it back.

ok, ive expanded the one from the i386 directory and replaced what was
in winnt\system32\dns and ... dns\backup but it hasnt put the root
servers back in, ive restarted the dns server and rebooted the machine
but still no proper root hints

i called it cache.dns ... but still not working, any ideas?

Kevin D. Goodknecht [MVP] · Nov 12, 2003

In

doobr1e said:
ok, ive expanded the one from the i386 directory and replaced what was
in winnt\system32\dns and ... dns\backup but it hasnt put the root
servers back in, ive restarted the dns server and rebooted the machine
but still no proper root hints

i called it cache.dns ... but still not working, any ideas?

You may have to get one from another machine I would send you mine but it
has been edited with the Open Root Server Consortium roots.
The ORSC roots resolve everything the ICAAN roots do plus a couple hundred
more TLDs not available on the ICAAN roots.

doobr1e · Nov 13, 2003

If this file doesn't look like this, check in the backup directory for the backup copy. If the file appears correct, open Active

Directory Users and computers. Choose View>Advanced Features. Go to the System>MicrosoftDns. Find the
RootDNSServers folder and delete it. Restart the DNS service and root hints should return to normal.

Thank you,
Mike Johnston
Microsoft Network Support

this part solved it, the deleting of microsoftdns in aduc as above

thanks

root hints

nev

Ace Fekay [MVP]

Herb Martin

Ace Fekay [MVP]

Herb Martin

Ace Fekay [MVP]

Michael Johnston [MSFT]

nev

Ace Fekay [MVP]

doobr1e

Kevin D. Goodknecht [MVP]

doobr1e