Slave DNS Server on win2k pro?

Can you use win2k pro as a slave dns server to a win2k server

[davemarks]

Sorry if this is an inappropriate forum but it was the best i could find ;)

I'm running a Windows 2000 Server as my development machine in the office, this runs IIS and DNS

My laptop is running Win2k pro. I would like to make this a slave dns server to the main previous machine, so that when it's away from the network it can still resolve the appropriate names

Basically i use .dev internally to map development sites, so what i want to do is have these mirrored on the laptop when i leave the office.

I hope this is making sense. Worst case cernario, I would consider some method of automatically chucking the relevent stuff out to a hosts file which i could then stick on the laptop and remember to update as neccesary.

Any ideas or am I just being plain stupid?

[Xoc]

It's looking like we don't have someone around who uses Windows DNS software. My DNS server is linux, so I can't help.

[jpjones]

Hi DaveMarks,
I don't run Windows DNS servers either, but the concept of DNS will be the same whatever the platform is.

What you will have to do is set up a DNS Server on your laptop, and set it to run as secondary only. As far as I know, Win2K does not come with a DNS Server, so you'll have to get one from the Internet. I'd recommend the Windows version of BIND.

Once you've installed this, set it to be the secondary server for all your .dev domains (and act as a caching server while it's at it). Instruct the Primary to recognise your laptop as the secondary, and then reload the zone files. Your laptop should then be able to serve requests for the domains. Set your Laptops' dns client to check localhost first for DNS lookups, and you're away.

What you may wish to do is set the TTL for the domains to be a large number (e.g. > 48 hours). This is so that when you are away from the office, and your laptop DNS server cannot contact the primary dns, it will not stop serving out information. By default, if a secondary cannot contact the primary after X seconds (where X is set in the zone file), it will stop serving out requests for that domain.

HTH,
JP

[davemarks]

I understand the principle of a slave server, not sure how to configure one, but will soon figure that out when i have one to play with...

My main question was really down to can i install one on win2k pro.

I know one comes with 2k server. From the sounds of it, you think i can download and install it..... or at least a dns server of some kind i guess albeit maybe not microsoft...yeah?

I don't suppose anyone can suggest one that will do the job :@)

Thanks for your help so far - much appreciated!

[jpjones]

I don't suppose anyone can suggest one that will do the job

If you don't mind controlling things with text files instead of GUI's, then download the windows version of BIND.
It takes just four lines of text to set BIND to be secondary for a domain.

Google for "windows bind" and you'll find some links.

JP

[davemarks]

Text files...

Sounds like painful fun :D will give google a try thanks.

Had downloaded something off download.com although not actually installed yet... but wasn't windows bind

Cheers