Creating DNS on Windows Server 2008

[Miraenda]

For nameservers and DNS zones to function on Windows Server 2008, you would need to install the DNS Server, configure the DNS, configure the A records and nameservers, and create the server's hostname. The following will cover the steps to accomplish those tasks.

Install DNS Server

1. Start > Administrative Tools > Server Manager
2. Click on Roles in left side pane
3. Click "Add Role" link in center pane after it loads.
4. On Before You Begin screen, click Next > button.
4. On Server Roles screen, check DNS Server, then click Next > button.
5. On DNS Server screen, click Next > button.
6. On Confirmation screen, click Install button
7. On Progress screen, wait for DNS Server to install, then click Next > button.
8. On Results screen, click Close button.

Configure DNS

1. Start > Administrative Tools > DNS
2. Click on the server's name under DNS, then click on Action > Configure a DNS Server...
3. On Welcome to the Configure a DNS Server Wizard screen, click Next > button.
4. On Select Configuration Area screen, click the middle option of Create forward and reverse lookup zones (recommended for large networks), then click Next > button.
5. On Forward Lookup Zone screen, keep top option of This server maintains the zone, then click Next > button.
6. On Zone Type screen, keep Primary zone selected, then click Next > button.
7. On Zone Name screen, in the Zone name: field enter your primary domain that will be used for the nameservers such as mydomain.info, then click Next > button.
8. On Zone File screen, keep top option selected for Create a new file with this file name: field, then keep the default (mydomain.info.dns) and click Next > button.
9. On Dynamic Update screen, keep Do not allow dynamic updates selected, then click Next > button.
10. On Reverse Lookup Zone screen, select No, don't create a reverse lookup zone now unless you actually control the IP zone you are using for the DNS nameserver IPs. Most times, your ISP or datacenter controls the IP zones unless they've given you delegation for that IP zone. Click the Next > button.
11. On Forwarders screen, keep No, it should not forward queries selected, then click Next > button.
12. On Completing the Configure a DNS Server Wizard screen, click the Finish button.

Configure A Records and Nameservers

1. Start > Administrative Tools > DNS
2. Click on the server's name under DNS, then expand Forward Lookup Zones, then highlight your DNS zone (mydomain.info)
3. Right click on it and select New Host (A or AAAA)...
4. In New Host dialog box, leave Name (uses parent domain name if blank): field blank. In IP Address: field, enter the domain's IP, then click Add Host button.
5. Click OK button on the success configuration popup.
6. On New Host dialog box, click Done button.
7. Back in DNS Manager area, double click on center box Name Server (NS) option.
8. In mydomain.info Properties screen, click Edit... button.
9. In Edit Name Server Record screen, enter ns1.mydomain.info in Server fully qualified domain name (FQDN) field.
10. Click in the IP Address field below, then enter the IP for that nameserver. Click outside the field to set it.
11. Click OK button.
12. Back in mydomain.info Properties screen on Name Servers tab, click Add... button.
13. In New Name Server Record screen, enter ns2.mydomain.info in Server fully qualified domain name (FQDN) field.
14. Click in the IP Address field below, then enter the IP for that second nameserver. Click outside the field to set it.
15. Click OK button.
16. Back in mydomain.info Properties screen, click Apply button.

Create Server Hostname

1. Start > Administrative Tools > DNS
2. Click on the server's name under DNS, then expand Forward Lookup Zones, then highlight your DNS zone (mydomain.info)
3. Right click on it and select New Host (A or AAAA)...
4. In New Host dialog box, enter main (or whatever you want the hostname to be, so the full name will end up being main.mydomain.info after the zone is created) in the Name (uses parent domain name if blank): field. In IP Address: field, enter the server's main IP, then click Add Host button.
5. Click OK button on the success configuration popup.
6. On New Host dialog box, click Done button.

Now, provided you've registered your nameservers at your domain registrar and that you've added the IPs to the machine already, you should be able to nslookup the domain, nameservers and hostname and have it working for those IPs using these steps:

1. Start > Run > cmd
2. nslookup mydomain.info

It should show something similar to the following:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6001]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.
C:\Users\Administrator>nslookup mydomain.info
Server:  UnKnown
Address:  54.54.54.1

Name:    mydomain.info
Address:  54.54.54.1