View a DNS server debug log file

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

To view a DNS server debug log file

Stop the DNS Server service.
Open WordPad.
On the File menu, click Open.
In Open, for File name, specify the path to the DNS server debug log file.

By default, if the applicable DNS server is running locally, the file and path are as follows:

systemroot\System32\Dns\Dns.log
After you specify the correct path and file, click Open to view the log file.

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.
To open WordPad, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click WordPad.
To stop the DNS Server service, see Related Topics.
The location of the DNS.log file is managed using the DNS console. To specify the name and location of the DNS.log file, see Related Topics.
By default, the Dns.log file is empty if you have not previously enabled debug logging options.
Debug logging slows DNS server performance and should only be enabled for temporary use.

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.