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Networking: A Beginner's Guide
Windows Server 2008 includes a full DNS server. In fact, a DNS server is required
for Active Directory to function. If you install the first Active Directory server into a
Windows Server 2008 domain, DNS services are automatically installed at the same
time; otherwise, you must select them manually to add them.
A Windows Server 2008 running DNS services can manage your own domains and
subdomains, and you can also set up multiple DNS servers that each manage a portion
of the domain namespace. Of course, on small networks, it is possible--and probably
desirable because of cost issues--to use only a single DNS server.
You manage the DNS services with the DNS Microsoft Management Console
(MMC) plug-in, which you access by opening the Start menu and choosing Programs,
Administrative Tools, then DNS. Figure 19-1 shows the DNS Manager window.
When you set up DNS for an organization, you first establish a root namespace
(a virtual location in which domain names are stored), usually using the domain name
you have registered for the Internet, such as omh.com. You can then create your own
subdomains by prepending organizational or geographic units, such as italy.omh.com
or accounting.omh.com.
Each DNS server is responsible for storing all the DNS names used for its managed
namespace and for communicating any changes to other DNS servers. When you use
multiple DNS servers to manage separate portions of your DNS namespace, each
Figure 19-1.
Use the DNS Manager to manage DNS services.