Allow Dynamic Updates
Applies To: Windows Server 2008
Domain Name System (DNS) client computers can use dynamic update to register and dynamically update their resource records with a DNS server whenever changes occur. This reduces the need for manual administration of zone records, especially for clients that frequently move or change locations and use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to obtain an IP address.
Dynamic updates can be both secure and nonsecure. For more information, see Understanding Dynamic Update.
Membership in the Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at Local and Domain Default Groups (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477).
Allowing dynamic updates
Using the Windows interface
Using a command line
To allow dynamic updates using the Windows interface
Open DNS Manager.
In the console tree, right-click the applicable zone, and then click Properties.
On the General tab, verify that the zone type is either Primary or Active Directory-integrated.
In Dynamic Updates, click Nonsecure and secure.
Additional considerations
To open DNS Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DNS.
Dynamic update is a Request for Comments (RFC)–compliant extension to the DNS standard. The DNS update process is defined in RFC 2136, "Dynamic Updates in the Domain Name System (DNS UPDATES)."
To allow dynamic updates using a command line
Open a command prompt.
Type the following command, and then press ENTER:
dnscmd <ServerName> /Config {<ZoneName>|..AllZones} /AllowUpdate {1|0}
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
dnscmd |
The command-line tool for managing DNS servers. |
<ServerName> |
Required. Specifies the DNS host name of the DNS server. You can also type the IP address of the DNS server. To specify the DNS server on the local computer, you can also type a period (.) |
/Config |
Required. Configures the specified zone. |
<ZoneName>|..AllZones |
Required. Specifies the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the zone. To configure all zones that are hosted on the specified DNS server to allow dynamic updates, type ..AllZones. |
/AllowUpdate |
Required. Enables dynamic updates for the specified zones. |
1|0 |
Configures dynamic update. To allow dynamic updates, enter a value of 1. To not allow dynamic updates, enter a value of 0. |
To view the complete syntax for this command, at a command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
dnscmd /Config /help
Additional considerations
To open an elevated Command Prompt window, click Start, point to All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.
Dynamic update is an RFC-compliant extension to the DNS standard. The DNS update process is defined in RFC 2136, "Dynamic Updates in the Domain Name System (DNS UPDATES)."