Event 4015 - Every four days

[Tim Chin]

I'm receiving the following error like clockwork 3 or 4 times in a row every
4 days:

Event 4015. The DNS server has encountered a critical error from the Active
Directory. Check that the Active Directory is functioning properly. The
event data contains the error.

I'm only receiving the error on 1 of 2 dcs (both run DNS) in empty-root
forest with an ad integrated dns zone. There are about 10 other dns servers
in my environment where child domains have been delegated control of DNS
records, they are not reporting errors - only a single one in the forest
(the primary server of all client computers and primary forward of delegated
dns servers). Server OS on forest-level dcs are both Windows 2000 Server
SP4, with DNS hotfix per KB838969. I installed the hotfix earlier in the
year to solve 7063 errors, but it looks like I've simply traded 7063 for
4015's : )

Has anyone seen this before or have any advice on how to resolve? I don't
necessarily see any issues in direct result of the error, so I'm not sure if
I should even get worked up over it.

 

[Kevin D. Goodknecht Sr. [MVP]]

I'm receiving the following error like clockwork 3 or 4 times in a
row every 4 days:

Event 4015. The DNS server has encountered a critical error from the
Active Directory. Check that the Active Directory is functioning
properly. The event data contains the error.
Has anyone seen this before or have any advice on how to resolve? I
don't necessarily see any issues in direct result of the error, so
I'm not sure if I should even get worked up over it.

Does this happen only when you restart the server?

Domain Controllers using AD integrated zones that point only to themselves
for DNS will log this error at startup. It's a DNS starting before Active
Directory thing.
Adding a second DC's IP for DNS to TCP/IP properties usually cures this.

 

[Adrian Grigorof]

There could be several reasons for seeing this event in your log. Please see
if any of the comments here applies to you:
http://www.eventid.net/display.asp?eventid=4015&eventno=333&source=DNS&phase=1