RecursionTimeout

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DNS\Parameters

Data type	Range	Default value
REG_DWORD	0x1–0xFFFFFFFF seconds	0xF (15 seconds)

Description

Determines how long the Domain Name System (DNS) waits for remote servers to respond to a recursive client query before terminating the search. If the DNS server does not receive a response to a recursive query, the server repeats the query at intervals specified by the value of the RecursionRetry entry. If, despite repeated trials, the server does not receive a response before the value of RecursionTimeout expires, the DNS server terminates the search and sends a SERVER_FAILURE response to the query.

This value is appropriate for most DNS servers. However, if this value is less than the time a remote server requires to respond over a slow link, you should increase this value so that it is slightly longer than the observed response time. In measuring actual response times, be sure to distinguish between responses from remote DNS servers and repeated query attempts by the client.

Change method

To change the value of this entry, use Dnscmd.exe, a tool included with the Windows 2000 Support Tools. The change is effective immediately; you do not have to restart the DNS server.

Activation method

DNS reads its registry entries only when it starts. If you change the value of this entry by editing the registry, the changes are not effective until you restart the DNS server.

Note

Windows 2000 does not add this entry to the registry. You can add it by editing the registry or by using a program that edits the registry.

Related Entries

ForwardingTimeout

ForwardingTimeout

RecursionRetry