Windows XP Client - Secondary DNS Server

[Michael Cartier]

After a long time in the biz, I've been told my understanding of the Windows
DNS client is wrong. Hoping someone can clarify for me....

Does Windows XP ever query its secondary DNS server, even if the primary is
online and responding? Here is our scenario....

Our network team configured a VPN branch tunnel and configured the desktops
on the (outside) end of the tunnel to have it DNS servers as the following:

Primary: ISP (Public)
Secondary: Internal AD DNS Server

We're having issues and when I told them that the AD DNS server should be
primary, the network team said that the secondary is queried as well as the
primary. I think they're wrong....am I wrong? To my knowledge the secondary
is not engaged unless the primary is unavailable (down).

 

[Danny Sanders]

You are correct.


hth
DDS

 

[Meinolf Weber]

Hello Michael,

You are correct. Primary is used first, if it does not react in specific
time it switches to secondary. Have a look here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc779517.aspx

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
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[Kevin D. Goodknecht Sr. [MVP]]

Read inline please.

In

After a long time in the biz, I've been told my understanding of the
Windows DNS client is wrong. Hoping someone can clarify for me....

Does Windows XP ever query its secondary DNS server, even if the
primary is online and responding? Here is our scenario....

Our network team configured a VPN branch tunnel and configured the
desktops on the (outside) end of the tunnel to have it DNS servers as
the following:
Primary: ISP (Public)
Secondary: Internal AD DNS Server

We're having issues and when I told them that the AD DNS server
should be primary, the network team said that the secondary is
queried as well as the primary. I think they're wrong....am I wrong?
To my knowledge the secondary is not engaged unless the primary is
unavailable (down).

You are correct.
One other thing that must be touched on about the DNS Client service, and is
why you should never mix your DNS servers as you noted, once the DNS client
switches to the Alternate DNS, it does not go back to querying the Preferred
until 15 minutes passes by default.

The DNS Client Service Does Not Revert to Using the First Server in the List
in Windows XP: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320760/en-us


--
Best regards,
Kevin D. Goodknecht Sr. [MVP]
Hope This Helps

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