Install a caching-only DNS server

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

To install a caching-only DNS server

To install a caching-only DNS server, install a DNS server on the server computer.
Do not configure the DNS server (as you might normally) to load any zones.
Verify server root hints are configured or updated correctly.

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.
Caching-only DNS servers do not host any zones and are not authoritative for a particular domain. They are DNS servers that build a local server cache of names learned while performing recursive queries on behalf of their clients. This information is then available from its cache when answering subsequent client queries.
A caching-only DNS server can be valuable at a site where DNS functionality is needed locally but it is not administratively desirable to create a separate domain or zone for that location.
It is strongly recommended that, when operating the computer as a DNS server, you manually configure TCP/IP and use a static IP address.

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.