Configure a DNS server for use with Active Directory

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To configure a DNS server for use with Active Directory

When Active Directory is installed using the Active Directory Installation Wizard, the option to automatically install and configure a local DNS server for use is provided.

To install Active Directory on this computer, use the Active Directory Installation Wizard. For more information, see Related Topics.

Notes

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Administrators group on the local computer, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. If the computer is joined to a domain, members of the Domain Admins group might be able to perform this procedure. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.
This procedure only applies to server computers used as domain controllers. If member servers are used as DNS servers, they are not integrated with Active Directory.
If you choose the Active Directory Installation Wizard option to automatically install and configure a local DNS server, the DNS server is installed on the computer where you are running the wizard and the computer's preferred DNS server setting is configured to use the new local DNS server. You will also want to configure any other computers that will join this domain to use this DNS server's IP address as their preferred DNS server.
For more information about setting up DNS for Active Directory, see Using the Windows Deployment and Resource Kits.
This feature is not included on computers running the Microsoft® Windows Server® 2003, Web Edition, operating system. For more information, see Overview of Windows Server 2003, Web Edition.

Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.