How to install and configure DNS on Windows Server

Continue reading so that at the end, you will know how to install and configure DNS on Windows Server, for the reason that everything which you need is here.

In this article, we are going to review the steps involved in setting up DNS on Windows Server. If you want to learn how to install and manage domain name systems on Windows Servers, then this tutorial is what you should be reading.

What is DNS in Windows Server?

Domain Name System, or DNS in short, is one of the most significant things when it comes to both the Internet and contemporary organizations. It allows us to locate needed systems by name and not by IP address. In other words, the computer will be in a position to access certain sites because it is translating hostnames such as www.thewindowsclub.com into IP addresses. 

Install and configure DNS on Windows Server

Below, you will learn about the steps to configure DNS on your Windows server.

Assign IP Address Permanently

In the Roles and Features, Enable the DNS Role

Create a New DNS Record

Manage IP Addresses

Now, we shall elaborate on their details one by one.

1] Permanently Assign an IP Address

First, we will assign a static IP address instead of the default dynamic one. Following are the steps to get it done.

Open Start and search for "View network connections" in the search bar.

You can access your network properties by right-clicking on its interface, such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Highlight Internet Protocol Version 4 (ICP/IPv4) and then click on the Properties button.

In the following window, select the radio for Enter an IP address as shown below. In this window, after putting the IP address, click in the Subnet Mask field; it will self-populate. After writing an IP address, write the Default gateway. Usually, one IP address is utilized. 

Now, after writing a DNS- that can be your version on your local system-click the "Ok" button. 

Now, reboot your system.

This lab assumes you have setup an external DNS server and a default gateway such as your modem or router. An external DNS server is required to find out names outside of your network and the gateway determines which outside of your network the traffic goes to, for example the Internet. 

2. Open Roles and Features and add the DNS role.

We will install the DNS Role that will actually enable us to configure the DNS after making a static IP. Just follow these steps to get this done. 

Open Server Manager.

Click Next after entering Manage > Add Roles and Features.

Click Next after selecting whether you install based on roles or features.

Click Add Roles on the Server Roles tab page to install a DNS server.

Next is clicked to skip the Features page since additional features are not required.

Click Next again.

On the Confirmation page select the box labeled "Restart the destination server automatically" if required and click Install.

Once the install is complete click Close.

Open the Command Prompt in administrator mode and try to ping your host after installing DNS to see if it works. The hostname should resolve correctly since the DNS is set up. 

To find out how to change the DNS server using PowerShell or the Command Prompt, read this.

third - create new DNS record

By adding the DNS Role, by default, an entry will be added with the hostname of your computer's name. Otherwise, we can add several DNS host records. Just follow the following steps to do so. 

Access the Server Manager main interface.

From there, use the Tools menu to go to DNS.

Click on your domain name, extend the server name to forward your lookup zone. At the bottom, finally, click on your domain to enter the zone.

There will be an entry of a host server. We would like to make a new entry. You just have to find an empty space, right-click on it, and then New Host A or AAAA.

Apart from assigning an IP address, you can also specify the IP address of the server and name it. 

Now select "Add Pointer (PTR) Record"

Click on the "Add Host" button.

When you are asked to confirm, click OK.

We can use the hostname we just now created to ping the server.

You'll only want to do this once you want to flush your system's DNS information. To do this open a Command Prompt and run ipconfig /flushdns.

Four

_BIND IP addresses or interfaces_

If you have multiple IP addresses or interfaces on a system you have the ability to specify which of these are used to process the DNS queries. To simulate this for the following the steps.

Click Tools > DNS within Server Manager.

Select the server from the left-hand side menu. Right-click on it and select Properties.

Under the Interfaces tab, select the check box "Only the following IP addresses" and then select the desired IP address.

The last option is to Approve.