Windows 2000 DNS

Configuring Query Settings

The resolver attaches DNS suffixes to a name that you enter in a query if either of the following conditions is true:

Name is a single-label unqualified name.
Name is a multiple-label unqualified name, and the resolver did not resolve it as an FQDN.

Note

For information about what happens when FQDNs and multiple-label domain names are submitted to DNS, see "DNS Name Resolution" earlier in this chapter.

You can configure which suffixes are added to queries from within the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog box.

To view the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog box

Right-click My Network Places, and then click Properties.
Right-click the connection that you want to view, and then click Properties.
Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.
Click Advanced, and then click the DNS tab.

Figure 6.9 shows the Advanced TCP/IP Settings dialog box.

Enlarge figure

Figure 6.9 DNS Tab in the Advanced TCP/IP Settings Dialog Box

The box labeled Append these DNS suffixes (in order) lets you specify a list of DNS suffixes to try, called a DNS suffix search list. If you enter a DNS suffix search list, the resolver adds those DNS suffixes in order and does not try any other domain names. For example, if the Append these DNS suffixes (in order) box includes the names listed in Figure 6.9 and you submit the unqualified, single-label query "coffee," the resolver queries in order for the following FQDNs:

coffee.reskit.com.

coffee.eu.reskit.com.

If you do not enter a DNS suffix search list, the resolver first appends the primary DNS suffix, which you specify on the Network Identification tab of the System Properties dialog box. For example, if your primary DNS suffix is fareast.isp01-ext.com, the resolver queries for the following FQDN:

coffee.fareast.isp01-ext.com.

Next, if that query fails and if a connection-specific DNS suffix is specified in the DNS suffix for this connection box or assigned by the DHCP server, the resolver appends that suffix. For example, if you entered the name noam.reskit.com in the DNS suffix for this connection box and then queried for the unqualified, single-label name "coffee," the resolver queries for the following FQDN:

coffee.noam.reskit.com.

Next, if you select the check box Append parent suffixes of the primary DNS suffix, the resolver performs name devolution on the primary DNS suffix. It strips off the leftmost label and tries the resulting domain name until only two labels remain. For example, if your primary DNS suffix is mfg.fareast.isp01-ext.com, and you selected the check box Append parent suffixes of the primary DNS suffix and then queried for the unqualified, single-label name "coffee," the resolver queries in order the following FQDNs:

coffee.fareast.isp01-ext.com.

coffee.isp01-ext.com.

You can disable name devolution by clearing the check box Append parent suffixes of the primary DNS suffix.