Windows Server 2008 R2 Unleashed (64 page)

of these tools and their functionality is a must for proper name-resolution troubleshoot-

ing with DNS.

Using the DNS Event Viewer to Diagnose Problems

As any good administrator will know, Event Viewer is the first place to look when trou-

bleshooting. Windows Server 2008 R2 makes it even more straightforward to use because

DNS events compiled from Event Viewer are immediately accessible from the DNS

Manager Console. Parsing this set of logs can help you troubleshoot DNS replication

issues, query problems, and other issues.

For more advanced event log diagnosis, you can turn on Debug Logging on a per-server

basis. It is recommended that this functionality be turned on only as required, however, as

this can affect server performance and the log files can fill up fast. To enable Debug

Logging, follow these steps:

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1. Launch Server Manager.

2. Expand the Roles, DNS Server, DNS nodes, and then select the DNS server name.

3. Right-click the server name and choose Properties.

4. Select the Debug Logging tab.

5. Check the Log Packets for Debugging check box.

6. Configure any additional settings as required, and click OK.

By default, the log file is named dns.log and is saved in the c:\windows\system32\dns\

directory. Listing 10.2 shows the debug of the DNS server dc1.companyabc.com of a lookup

of the record www.cco.com from the server at 192.168.3.201. You can see from the log

that the request was forwarded to the DNS server at 192.168.2.5 and that the results were

then sent to the requesting server at 192.168.3.201.

LISTING 10.2

DNS Log File

9/27/2009 11:52:03 AM 0388 PACKET 0000000002425D80 UDP Rcv 192.168.3.201 0002

Q [0001 D NOERROR] A (3)www(3)cco(3)com(10)companyabc(3)com(0)

9/27/2009 11:52:03 AM 0388 PACKET 0000000002425D80 UDP Snd 192.168.3.201 0002 R

Q [8385 A DR NXDOMAIN] A (3)www(3)cco(3)com(10)companyabc(3)com(0)

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9/27/2009 11:52:03 AM 0388 PACKET 000000000381E940 UDP Rcv 192.168.3.201 0003

Q [0001 D NOERROR] AAAA (3)www(3)cco(3)com(10)companyabc(3)com(0)

9/27/2009 11:52:03 AM 0388 PACKET 000000000381E940 UDP Snd 192.168.3.201 0003 R

Q [8385 A DR NXDOMAIN] AAAA (3)www(3)cco(3)com(10)companyabc(3)com(0)

9/27/2009 11:52:03 AM 0388 PACKET 00000000032FF460 UDP Rcv 192.168.3.201 0004

Q [0001 D NOERROR] A (3)www(3)cco(3)com(0)

9/27/2009 11:52:03 AM 0388 PACKET 0000000003C74A00 UDP Snd 192.168.2.5 95b5

Q [1001 D NOERROR] A (3)www(3)cco(3)com(0)

9/27/2009 11:52:04 AM 0388 PACKET 0000000003138020 UDP Rcv 192.168.2.5 95b5 R

Q [8081 DR NOERROR] A (3)www(3)cco(3)com(0)

9/27/2009 11:52:04 AM 0388 PACKET 00000000032FF460 UDP Snd 192.168.3.201 0004 R

Q [8081 DR NOERROR] A (3)www(3)cco(3)com(0)

9/27/2009 11:52:04 AM 0388 PACKET 0000000002425D80 UDP Rcv 192.168.3.201 0005

Q [0001 D NOERROR] AAAA (3)www(3)cco(3)com(0)

9/27/2009 11:52:04 AM 0388 PACKET 00000000032FF460 UDP Snd 192.168.2.5 1240

Q [1001 D NOERROR] AAAA (3)www(3)cco(3)com(0)

9/27/2009 11:52:04 AM 0388 PACKET 0000000002F30BE0 UDP Rcv 192.168.2.5 1240 R

Q [8081 DR NOERROR] AAAA (3)www(3)cco(3)com(0)

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9/27/2009 11:52:04 AM 0388 PACKET 0000000002425D80 UDP Snd 192.168.3.201 0005 R

Q [8081 DR NOERROR] AAAA (3)www(3)cco(3)com(0)

The DNS log can be very detailed and tedious to read, but provides a wealth of informa-

tion about exactly what the DNS server is doing. You can get even more detail by selecting

the Details check box on the Debug Logging tab, which also enables you to see the data

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that was returned. Logging does add significantly to the load of the DNS server, so it

should only be enabled when troubleshooting and disabled immediately afterwards.

Using Performance Monitor to Monitor DNS

Performance Monitor is a built-in, often-overlooked utility that allows for a great deal of

insight into issues in a network. In regard to DNS, many critical DNS counters can be moni-

tored relating to queries, zone transfers, memory utilization, and other important factors.

Client-Side Cache and HOST Resolution Problems

Windows 2000 and higher clients have a built-in client cache for name resolution that

caches all information retrieved from name servers. When requesting lookups, the client

resolver parses this cache first, before contacting the name server. Items remain in this

cache until the TTL expires, the machine is rebooted, or the cache is flushed. In cases

where erroneous information has been entered into the client cache, it can be flushed by

typing ipconfig /flushdns at the command prompt.

By default, all clients have a file named HOSTS that provides for a simple line-by-line reso-

lution of names to IP addresses. This file is normally located in \%systemroot%\system32\

drivers\etc. Problems can occur when these manual entries conflict with DNS, and it is,

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therefore, wise to ensure that there are not conflicts with this HOSTS file and the DNS

database when troubleshooting.

Using the NSLOOKUP Command-Line Utility

The NSLOOKUP command-line utility is perhaps the most useful tool for DNS client trou-

bleshooting. Its functionality is basic, but the information obtained can do wonders for

helping to understand DNS problems. NSLOOKUP, in its most basic operation, contacts

the default DNS server of a client and attempts to resolve a name that is inputted. For

example, to test a lookup on www.companyabc.com, type nslookup www.companyabc.com

at the command prompt. Different query types can also be input into NSLOOKUP. For

example, you can create simple queries to view the MX and SOA records associated with a

specific domain by following these steps, which are illustrated in Figure 10.17:

1. Open a command-prompt instance by choosing Start, All Programs, Accessories,

Command Prompt.

2. Type nslookup and press Enter.

3. Type set query=mx and press Enter.

4. Type and press Enter.

5. Type set query=soa and press Enter.

6. Type and press Enter.

NSLOOKUP’s functionality is not limited to these simple lookups. Performing an nslookup

/? lists the many functions it is capable of. NSLOOKUP is a tool of choice for many name-

resolution problems and is a must in any troubleshooter’s arsenal.

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295

FIGURE 10.17

NSLOOKUP of an MX and an SOA record.

Using the IPCONFIG Command-Line Utility

Another important tool for DNS resolution problems is the IPCONFIG utility, the same

utility used for common TCP/IP issues. There are several key functions that IPCONFIG

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offers in regard to DNS. These functions can be invoked from the command prompt with

the right parameter, detailed as follows:

. ipconfig /flushdns—If you experience problems with the client-side cache, the

cache itself can be “flushed” through the invocation of the flushdns flag. This

removes all previously cached queries that a client might be storing and is particu-

larly useful if a server name has just changed IP addresses and particular clients have

trouble connecting to it.

. ipconfig /registerdns—The registerdns flag forces the client to dynamically

reregister itself in DNS, if the particular zone supports dynamic updates.

. ipconfig /displaydns—An interesting but not well-known parameter is

displaydns. This flag displays the contents of the client-side cache and is useful for

troubleshooting specific issues with individual records.

Using the TRACERT Command-Line Utility

The TRACERT utility is a valuable resource that gives you an idea of the path that a DNS

10

query takes when being sent over a network. By directing TRACERT at www.microsoft.

com, for example, you can get an idea of how many routers and DNS servers the packet is

crossing. The way that TRACERT works is simple, but actually quite interesting. A DNS

query that has a TTL of 1 is sent out. Because all routers are supposed to drop the TTL by

1 on each packet that they process, this means that the first router will refuse to forward

the packet and send that refusal back to the originator. The originating machine then

increments the TTL by 1 and resends the packet. This time the packet will make it past the

first router and get refused by the second. This process continues until the destination is

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met. Needless to say, using this command-line utility is a simple yet effective way of

viewing the path that a DNS query takes as it crosses the Internet.

Using the DNSCMD Command-Line Utility

The DNSCMD utility is essentially a command-line version of the MMC DNS console.

Installed as part of the Windows Server 2008 R2 DNS Server role, this utility allows admin-

istrators to create zones, modify records, and perform other vital administrative functions

via the command line. You can view the full functionality of this utility by typing

DNSCMD /? at the command line, as illustrated in Listing 10.3.

LISTING 10.3

DNSCMD Command Options

Usage: DnsCmd []

:

IP address or host name — remote or local DNS server

. — DNS server on local machine

:

/Info — Get server information

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/Config — Reset server or zone configuration

/EnumZones — Enumerate zones

/Statistics — Query/clear server statistics data

/ClearCache — Clear DNS server cache

/WriteBackFiles — Write back all zone or root-hint datafile(s)

/StartScavenging — Initiates server scavenging

/IpValidate — Validate remote DNS servers

/ResetListenAddresses — Set server IP address(es) to serve DNS requests

/ResetForwarders — Set DNS servers to forward recursive queries to

/ZoneInfo — View zone information

/ZoneAdd — Create a new zone on the DNS server

/ZoneDelete — Delete a zone from DNS server or DS

/ZonePause — Pause a zone

/ZoneResume — Resume a zone

/ZoneReload — Reload zone from its database (file or DS)

/ZoneWriteBack — Write back zone to file

/ZoneRefresh — Force refresh of secondary zone from master

/ZoneUpdateFromDs — Update a DS integrated zone by data from DS

/ZonePrint — Display all records in the zone

/ZoneResetType — Change zone type

/ZoneResetSecondaries — Reset secondary\notify information for a zone

/ZoneResetScavengeServers — Reset scavenging servers for a zone

/ZoneResetMasters — Reset secondary zone’s master servers

/ZoneExport — Export a zone to file

/ZoneChangeDirectoryPartition — Move a zone to another directory partition

/TrustAnchorsResetType — Change zone type for a trust anchor zone

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/EnumRecords — Enumerate records at a name

/RecordAdd — Create a record in zone or RootHints

/RecordDelete — Delete a record from zone, RootHints, or cache

/NodeDelete — Delete all records at a name

/AgeAllRecords — Force aging on node(s) in zone

/TrustAnchorAdd — Create a new trust anchor zone on the DNS server

/TrustAnchorDelete — Delete a trust anchor zone from DNS server or DS

/EnumTrustAnchors — Enumerate records at a name

/EnumDirectoryPartitions

— Enumerate directory partitions

/DirectoryPartitionInfo — Get info on a directory partition

/CreateDirectoryPartition — Create a directory partition

/DeleteDirectoryPartition — Delete a directory partition

/EnlistDirectoryPartition — Add DNS server to partition replication scope

/UnenlistDirectoryPartition — Remove DNS server from replication scope

/CreateBuiltinDirectoryPartitions — Create built-in partitions

/ExportSettings — Output settings to DnsSettings.txt in the DNS