Article ID: 199909 - Last Review: November 1, 2006 - Revision: 2.5

DNS May Not Respond to Queries After Applying SP4

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This article was previously published under Q199909

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/EN-US/ ) Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
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SYMPTOMS

After applying Service Pack 4 to a Windows NT 4.0 DNS Server, the server will appear to stop resolving queries for hosts in certain remote domains. The first query for a host in one of these domains will succeed, but subsequent queries for other hosts in the same domain will fail.
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CAUSE

The DNS code in Service Pack 4 was updated to support Ranking Data as defined in RFC 2181 section 5.4.1. After an answer from an authoritative NS has been cached, Windows NT DNS discontinues querying referrals to non-authoritative NSs. The authoritative NS is cached. If the authority does not have an associated glue record for the additional NSs, DNS will not be able to resolve the HOST RR for the other NSs, thus causing subsequent queries to fail.
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WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do the following:
  • Contact an administrator of the remote domain to verify that the name server in question has associated glue records for all authoritative NSs.
  • To change the behavior of the DNS server, acquire the latest DNS hotfix from Microsoft Product Support Services.
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RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or the individual software update. For information on obtaining the latest service pack, please go to:
For information on obtaining the individual software update, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;en-us;cntactms)


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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT version 4.0 SP4. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT version 4.0 Service Pack 5.
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MORE INFORMATION

After the hotfix has been acquired, add the following value to the registry:

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\system\CurrentControlSet\Services\DNS\Parameters

   Value Name: NoCacheRanking
   Data Type: REG_DWORD
   Value: 1
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REFERENCES

RFC 2181: Clarifications to the DNS Specification
http://www.nexor.com (http://www.nexor.com/)
RFC 1034: Domain Names - Concepts and Facilities
http://www.nexor.com (http://www.nexor.com/)
RFC 1035: Domain Names - Implementation and Specification
http://www.nexor.com (http://www.nexor.com/)
Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4
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Keywords: 
kbhotfixserver kbqfe kbbug kbfix KB199909
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