How to troubleshoot DNS name resolution on the Internet in Windows Server 2003

This article describes methods that you can use to configure Domain Name System (DNS) if queries that are directed to the Internet are not resolved correctly, but local intranet name resolution functions correctly.

The Cache.dns file that stores root hints on your Windows Server 2003-based computer may be missing or damaged. You can manually add root hints by using the DNS snap-in, replace the Cache.dns file on your hard disk with the backup Cache.dns file or replace it with the original version of the Cache.dns file from the Windows Server 2003 CD.

To update root hints by using the DNS snap-in

To update root hints:

On a non-domain controller

To manually add root hints on a Windows Server 2003-based DNS server that is not configured as a domain controller:

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DNS.
2. In the right pane, right-click ServerName, where ServerName is the name of the server, and then click Properties
3. Click the Root Hints tab, and then click Add.
4. Specify the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and the IP address of the root server that you want to add, and then click OK.

On a domain controller

To update root hints on a Windows Server 2003-based DNS server that is configured as a domain controller:

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DNS.
2. In the right pane, right-click ServerName, where ServerName is the name of the server, and then click Properties
3. Click the Root Hints tab.
4. Do one of the following:
   • Add a root server to the list. To do so, click Add, specify the FQDN and the IP address of the root server that you want to add, and then click OK.
   • Copy the root hints from another DNS server. To do so, click Copy from Server, specify the IP address of the DNS server where you want to copy the root hints from, and then click OK.
5. Click OK.

Note The following is a list root servers as specified by Network Solutions:

To copy and use the backup Cache.dns file

To rename and replace the Cache.dns file in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Dns folder with the backup Cache.dns file:

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
3. Stop the DNS service. To do so, at the command prompt, type net stop dns, and then press ENTER.
4. Rename the Cache.dns file in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Dns folder to Cache.old. To do so, at the command prompt, type the following lines. Press ENTER after each line:
   cd %systemroot%\Sytem32\Dns
   ren cache.dns cache.old
   copy backup\cache.dns
5. Start the DNS service. To do so, at the command prompt, type net start dns, and then press ENTER.

To copy and use the Cache.dns file from the Windows Server 2003 CD

To extract the Cache.dns file from the Windows Server 2003 CD to the %SystemRoot%\System32\Dns folder on the hard disk.

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK.
3. At the command prompt, type the following lines, where Drive is the drive letter of the computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive that contains the Windows Server 2003 CD. Press ENTER after each line:
   Drive:
   cd i386
   expand cache.dn_ %systemroot%\System32\Dns\Cache.dns
4. Type exit to quit Command Prompt.

For additional information about how to configure DNS for Internet access in Windows Server 2003, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For additional information about how to install and configure DNS in Windows Server 2003, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: