Active Directory DNSHostName property does not include subdomain

When a computer joins an Active Directory domain (for example, MICROSOFT.COM), Active Directory stores the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the computer with the computer account in a property called DNSHostName. For example, for a computer named "W2K-CLIENT," the DNSHostName property contains a "W2K-CLIENT.MICROSOFT.COM" value.

If the computer belongs to a Directory Naming Service (DNS) zone (for example, PSS.MICROSOFT.COM) whose name is different from the Active Directory domain name (in this example, MICROSOFT.COM) that the computer joined, the DNSHostName does not by default include the subdomain name (in this example, "PSS"), but only contains the value "W2K-CLIENT.MICROSOFT.COM".

Because there is no W2K-CLIENT.MICROSOFT.COM entry in DNS (DNS knows only about the "W2K-CLIENT.PSS.MICROSOFT.COM" entry), some services, such as the File Replication service (FRS), may not work correctly and the following event log entry may be generated:

The DNSHostName property of the computer object contains Hostname.PrimaryDNSSuffix by design. By default, PrimaryDNSSuffix is the name of the Active Directory domain the computer is joined to. In the example above, PrimaryDNSSuffix is MICROSOFT.COM.

To view PrimaryDNSSuffix for a computer, use the ipconfig /all command.

Changing the DNSHostName property to the current DNS name of the server, including the subdomain name, solves the FRS replication problem. You can change the DNSHostName property by using one of the following methods:

• Change the computer's PrimaryDNSSuffix and give the computer the appropriate right in Active Directory to change the DNSHostName property during boot.
  
  To change the computer's PrimaryDNSSuffix, on the Network Identification tab in the System tool in Control Panel, click Properties, and then click More. Change the Primary DNS suffix of this computer setting to include the subdomain for the computer. Click OK, click OK, and then click OK.
  
  To give the computer the appropriate rights in Active Directory to change the DNSHostName property (do this on a domain controller):
  1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in.
  2. Choose Advanced view.
  3. Right-click the appropriate domain, and then click Properties.
  4. On the Security tab, add the Self group to the ACL.
  5. Click Advanced button.
  6. Click Self, and then click View/Edit.
  7. Click the Property tab. In the Apply onto box, click Computer Objects.
  8. Under Permissions, click to select the Write DNS host name check box.
  9. Click OK to close all dialog boxes.
  10. Restart the computer to register with Active Directory again.
• Use Group Policy to set PrimaryDNSSuffix appropriately on all computers in the subdomain. You can set PrimaryDNSSuffix in Group Policy by opening Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, System, and then DNS Client.
• Use Active Directory Services Interface (ADSI) and write a script to change the DNSHostName property.