PTR Record for DNS Server Is Not Automatically Created

 Last reviewed: August 26, 1997
Article ID: Q171789
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you run Nslookup from a command prompt on your Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Domain Name Service (DNS) server, you receive the following error message: 

   **** Can't find server name for address x.x.x.x: Non-existent domain
   **** Default server is not available
   Default Server: UnKnown
   Address:  x.x.x.x
Where x.x.x.x is the IP address of your DNS server.

NOTE: This problem may occur with other applications as well.

CAUSE

There is a missing or mis-configured PTR record for your DNS server in your reverse lookup zone. The DNS Manager does not automatically create a PTR record for your DNS server, even though it may automatically create an A record in your forward zone.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, perform the following steps:

  1. From DNS Manager, open your forward zone.

  2. Right-click on the A record for your DNS server, and then click Delete Record.

  3. Click Yes to confirm the deletion of the A record.

  4. Right-click on the forward zone, and then click New Host.

  5. Type the host name of your DNS server and the IP address.

  6. Select the Create Associated PTR Record check box.

  7. Click Add Host, and then click Done.

If you receive an error when you click Add Host, then you may be having a problem with your reverse lookup zone.

For additional information, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q166753
   TITLE     : Microsoft DNS Server Reverse Lookup Error Adding Host Record

   ARTICLE-ID: Q162842
   TITLE     : DNS with "WINS Reverse Lookup" Fails with Multiple IP
               Addresses

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

You can view the properties of an A record by right-clicking on it and then clicking Properties. When the above problem is encountered, the A record properties will have a check in Update Associated PTR Record. This seems to indicate that the PTR record has been created and is active, however, it is not true.

The reverse lookup zone is a database file that is used to allow a client, or resolver, to provide an IP address and request a matching host name. This file contains an SOA record and NS records similar to other DNS database zone files. It also contains pointer records.

This DNS reverse lookup capability is important because some applications provide these capabilities to implement security based on the connecting host names. Nslookup is one of these utilities. 

Keywords          : kbbug4.00 ntconfig ntdomain NTSrv kbnetwork
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Platform          : winnt
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbworkaround

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Last reviewed: August 26, 1997
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