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Configure the DNS Suffix Search List for a Disjoint Namespace

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Applies to: Exchange Server 2010

You can use the Group Policy Management console (GPMC) to configure the Domain Name System (DNS) suffix search list. In some Microsoft Exchange 2010 scenarios, if you have a disjoint namespace, you must configure the DNS suffix search list to include multiple DNS suffixes.

For more information about Group Policy, see Windows Server Group Policy. For more information about disjoint namespace scenarios, see Understanding Disjoint Namespace Scenarios.

Prerequisites

Confirm that you have installed .NET Framework 3.0 on the computer on which you will install GPMC.

Note

The current version of GPMC that you can download from the Microsoft Download Center operates on the 32-bit versions of the Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP operating systems and can remotely manage Group Policy objects on 32-bit and 64-bit domain controllers. This version of GPMC doesn't include a 64-bit version, and the 32-bit version doesn't run on 64-bit platforms. The 32-bit version of Windows Server 2008 and the 32-bit version of Windows Vista both include a 32-bit version of GPMC. The 64-bit version of Windows Server 2008 and the 64-bit version of Windows Vista both include a 64-bit version of GPMC.

Configure DNS suffix search list

To perform this procedure, the account you use must be delegated membership in the Domain Admins group.

  1. On a 32-bit computer in your domain, install GPMC with Service Pack 1 (SP1). For download information, see Group Policy Management Console with Service Pack 1.

    Note

    If you have a computer in your domain running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista, you can skip this step.

  2. Click Start, click Programs, click Administrative Tools, and then click Group Policy Management.

  3. In Group Policy Management, expand the forest and the domain in which you will apply Group Policy. Right-click Group Policy Objects, and then click New.

  4. In New GPO, type a name for the policy, and then click OK.

  5. Right-click the new policy that you created in Step 4, and then click Edit.

  6. In Group Policy Management Editor, expand Computer Configuration, expand Policies, expand Administrative Templates, expand Network, and then click DNS Client.

  7. Right-click DNS Suffix Search List, click All Tasks, and then click Edit.

  8. On the DNS Suffix Search List Properties page, select Enabled. In the DNS Suffixes box, type the primary DNS suffix of the disjoint computer, the DNS domain name, and any additional namespaces for other servers with which Exchange may interoperate, such as monitoring servers or servers for third-party applications. Click OK.

  9. In Group Policy Management, expand Group Policy Objects, and then select the policy that you created in Step 4. On the Scope tab, scope the policy so that it applies to only the computers that are disjoint.