Primary DNS suffix for a Windows server 2008, Windows server 2008 R2, Windows 7, Windows Vista, deployment using an Answer file may not be set.

Symptoms

  • You have deployed a system with Windows Vista or a later operating system listed in the title of this article.
  • You are using a Windows answer file generated using the Windows System Image Manager or manually, similar to the one below- to set a Primary DNS Suffix for the machine.

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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:unattend">

    <settings pass="specialize">

        <component name="Microsoft-Windows-DNS-Client" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" language="neutral" versionScope="nonSxS" xmlns:wcm="http://schemas.microsoft.com/WMIConfig/2002/State" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">

            <DNSDomain>test.local</DNSDomain>

            <UseDomainNameDevolution>true</UseDomainNameDevolution>

            <DNSSuffixSearchOrder>

                <DomainName wcm:action="add" wcm:keyValue="1">suffix1.test</DomainName>

                <DomainName wcm:action="add" wcm:keyValue="2">suffix2.test</DomainName>

            </DNSSuffixSearchOrder>

        </component>

    </settings>

    </unattend>

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  • The answer file named Unattend.xml is copied to the directory path "C:\windows\system32\sysprep"
  • The following command is run to apply the answer file upon next boot of the system to set the Primary DNS suffix for the machine.

    c:\windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /oobe /generalize /reboot /quiet /unattend:c:\windows\system32\sysprep\unattend.xml
  • The Primary DNS suffix as indicated by the ipconfig /all output or the System Properties Window is not set as expected.

Cause

This can happen if the system was joined to a Windows domain at some point and may be later removed.
     
  • Joining the machine to the domain causes a string value named "NV Domain" to be created at the registry location HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
  • The "NV Domain" registry value is copied into the "Domain" string value at the same registry location at boot by WININIT.EXEon
  • The string value "Domain" at registry location "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters" holds the Primary DNS suffix value for the machine.
  • Therefore, depending on the value of string value "NV Domain" as above will dictate the Primary DNS suffix upon boot after the sysprep command.


Resolution

  • Ensure that the answer file is being applied to a system that was never joined to the domain prior to running sysprep.
  • The second option is to delete the "NV Domain" value from "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters" prior to running sysprep.

More Information

Reference the help files that come with the Windows Automated Installation kit for details on answer files and Sysprep.