How to Configure Dfs to Use Fully Qualified Domain Names in Referrals

ID: Q244380

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

A Windows 2000-based server that is using Microsoft Distributed File System (Dfs) replies to a Dfs "get referral" query with a NetBIOS name format (\\server\share) by default. This is necessary in certain environments in which NetBIOS is relied upon.

Depending on the client's Domain Name System (DNS) configuration, the client may not be able to resolve the server name returned from the Dfs "get referral" query.


MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

To modify this behavior, use any of the following methods:

  • Configure a DNS suffix for resolution of unqualified names on the client.


  • Add a DNS entry for the server name in the client's DNS zone.


  • In a DNS-only environment, configure the Dfs server to respond with a fully qualified domain name by setting the DfsDnsConfig parameter in the registry.


To enable fully qualified domain names in Dfs:
  1. If the Dfs server hosts a Dfs root or replica, remove it from the server. (If you accidentally activated the DfsDnsConfig parameter without removing configuration information, you can clear it by typing dfsutil /clean: computername.


  2. Start Registry Editor and open the following key:


    3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dfs
  3. If you find a DfsDnsConfig value, click Edit Value on the Edit menu, and then change the value to 1. If there is no DfsDnsConfig value, click Add Value on the Edit menu, and then add the following information value:


    4. Value Name: DfsDnsConfig
    Data Type: REG_DWORD
    Value Data: 0 or 1
    If you set the data value to 1, all roots added to the Dfs tree use a fully qualified domain name. 0 specifies the default behavior.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbenv kbnetwork
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: December 29, 1999
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