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Tip: Use Built-In Tools to Monitor DNS Servers

Windows Server 2008 offers built-in functionality for monitoring a DNS server. Monitoring is useful to ensure that DNS resolution is configured properly. You can configure monitoring to occur manually or automatically by following these steps:
1. In the DNS console, right-click the server you want to configure and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.
2. Click the Monitoring tab.

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3. You can perform two types of tests. To test DNS resolution on the current server, select the “A simple query against this DNS server” check box. To test DNS resolution in the domain, select the “A recursive query to other DNS servers” check box. Or you can perform a manual test by clicking Test Now or schedule the server for automatic monitoring by selecting the “Perform automatic testing at the following interval” check box and then setting a time interval in seconds, minutes, or hours.
4. The Test Results panel shows the results of testing. You’ll see a date and time stamp indicating when the test was performed and a result, such as Pass or Fail. Although a single failure might be the result of a temporary outage, multiple failures normally indicate a DNS resolution problem.
If all recursive query tests fail, the advanced server option “Disable Recursion” might be selected. Click the Advanced tab and check the server options.
Note: If you’re actively troubleshooting a DNS problem, you might want to configure testing to occur every 10–15 seconds. This will provide a rapid succession of test results. If you’re monitoring DNS for problems as part of your daily administrative duties, you’ll want a longer time interval, such as two or three hours.

From the Microsoft Press book Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant by William R. Stanek.

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