How to Create a Caching-Only Name Server with Microsoft DNS

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This article was previously published under Q167234

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SUMMARY

A caching only name server is a Domain Name System (DNS) Server that is not authoritative for any particular domain. Its only function is to look up names for clients and cache them.

After a period of time, as names are resolved, the cache will be populated with the most frequently requested names, and these names/addresses are available quickly for subsequent queries.

A caching-only DNS server may be valuable at a site where DNS functionality is needed locally but there is not a requirement for a separate domain for that location. This will reduce the amount of DNS traffic on a Wide Area Network (WAN), as the DNS cache may be able to satisfy many of the queries locally.

MORE INFORMATION

With the Microsoft Domain Name System Server, it is very easy to create a caching-only name server.

Simply install DNS and run the Domain Name System Manager. Click on DNS in the menu, select New Server, and type in the IP address of your computer where you have installed DNS.

You now have a caching-only DNS server.