DNS May Not Respond to Queries After Applying SP4

• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 SP4
• Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 SP4

SYMPTOMS

After applying Service Pack 4 to a Windows NT 4.0 DNS Server, the server will appear to stop resolving queries for hosts in certain remote domains. The first query for a host in one of these domains will succeed, but subsequent queries for other hosts in the same domain will fail.

CAUSE

The DNS code in Service Pack 4 was updated to support Ranking Data as defined in RFC 2181 section 5.4.1. After an answer from an authoritative NS has been cached, Windows NT DNS discontinues querying referrals to non-authoritative NSs. The authoritative NS is cached. If the authority does not have an associated glue record for the additional NSs, DNS will not be able to resolve the HOST RR for the other NSs, thus causing subsequent queries to fail.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do the following:

• Contact an administrator of the remote domain to verify that the name server in question has associated glue records for all authoritative NSs.



• To change the behavior of the DNS server, acquire the latest DNS hotfix from Microsoft Product Support Services.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or the individual software update. For information on obtaining the latest service pack, please go to:

• http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/ServicePacks/


-or-


• Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0 SP4. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT version 4.0 Service Pack 5.

MORE INFORMATION

After the hotfix has been acquired, add the following value to the registry:

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).

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\system\CurrentControlSet\Services\DNS\Parameters

   Value Name: NoCacheRanking
   Data Type: REG_DWORD
   Value: 1 

REFERENCES

RFC 2181: Clarifications to the DNS Specification

http://www.nexor.com/public/rfc/index/cgi-bin/search/form?query=2181

http://www.nexor.com/public/rfc/index/cgi-bin/search/form?query=1034

http://www.nexor.com/public/rfc/index/cgi-bin/search/form?query=1035

Additional query words: SP4 cache query failed failure NS record records

Keywords : kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00 nt4sp5fix
Version : winnt:4.0 SP4
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug