Server Stops Resolving DNS Queries

[RobP]

Hi,

I wondered if anybody could give me any feedback on this problem.

I have a Windows 2000 Server (SP4), which is the sole Active Directory
controller on a network with about 8 client PCs.

It is configured with 4 DNS Servers (supplied by the ISP) as forwarders.

When it works, it works fine, but frequently - like once or twice a day - it
will just give up resolving external addresses and it won't work again until
the DNS Server service has been restarted. If I try pinging Internet
addresses from the server or from client machines, it just won't recognise
them until it has been restarted, at which point all is OK again.

There's no pertinent errors in the Event Log. This has been ongoing for a
while, and at some point I have recreated the DNS cache using a guide from
Microsoft.com but that hasn't had any effect.

Has anyone seen a problem similar to this and got any ideas as to what I
should be trying?

Regards

Rob

 

[Kevin D. Goodknecht Sr. [MVP]]

Hi,

I wondered if anybody could give me any feedback on this problem.

I have a Windows 2000 Server (SP4), which is the sole Active Directory
controller on a network with about 8 client PCs.

It is configured with 4 DNS Servers (supplied by the ISP) as
forwarders.

When it works, it works fine, but frequently - like once or twice a
day - it will just give up resolving external addresses and it won't
work again until the DNS Server service has been restarted. If I try
pinging Internet addresses from the server or from client machines,
it just won't recognise them until it has been restarted, at which
point all is OK again.

There's no pertinent errors in the Event Log. This has been ongoing
for a while, and at some point I have recreated the DNS cache using a
guide from Microsoft.com but that hasn't had any effect.

Has anyone seen a problem similar to this and got any ideas as to
what I should be trying?

Is "Do not use recursion" checked on the forwarders tab? (Likely should not
be)
Have you tried removing the forwarders?
Are the Root servers resolved to IP addresses on the Root Hints tab?

 

[RobP]

Is "Do not use recursion" checked on the forwarders tab? (Likely should
not
be)
Have you tried removing the forwarders?
Are the Root servers resolved to IP addresses on the Root Hints tab?

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for you reply.
"Do not use recursion" is not checked.
Root servers are resolved to IP addresses on the tab.

I'll try removing the forwarders, and see how I get on.
Is the best practice to use your own ISPs forwarders?

Regards

Rob

 

[Kurt]

For a lot of computers, using forwarders offloads much of the DNS duties to
your ISP. But for 8 computers I would just let my own DNS server do all the
lookups. Then at least you'll know the problem is your own.

....kurt