Overview

The software implements a DNS Server for all Windows platforms.
The server can run as Primary or Backup name server and supports dynamic DNS updates based on RFC 2136.
The server operates as a so called "recursive DNS forwarder" with caching. Requests for non local domains are answered from the cache or forwarded to external nameservers.

A native DNS Server service for background operation is implemented for Windows NT/2000/XP. A Control Panel Applet provides interactive access to the service. For Windows 9x/ME the DNS Server is implemented as an application that can run as service with nobody logged in.

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Installation

Requirements

Windows 9x/ME or Windows NT 4.0/2000 workstation configured for TCP/IP. On Windows 95 the Winsock 2 update is required.

Installation of the DNS Server service

1. Install the software by running the setup. The installation process installs and starts the service.

Installation of the DNS Software on Win9x/ME

1. Install the software by running the setup.
2. Start the software by double clicking on the DNS Server icon.

If a hosts file exists on the compuer it is loaded as a starting point for a DNS configuration. Local domain and computer name are extracted from the Windows settings. Use the Add Entry menu entry to add further names to the database. For automated update of entries a command line tool DNSCMD.EXE is provided.

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Users Guide

The Info Box at startup is displayed only for the unregistered version.

Running the DNS server as a Service on NT/2000/XP

The server is installed as a service on Windows NT/2000/XP for background operation. The service is configured and monitored by the Control Panel Applet DNS Server.

The start menu entries to install/remove the service execute the following commands:

1. The DNS Server service is installed with the command:
   DNS4NT -install
   and automatically started on Windows startup. The installed service can be started and stopped manually through the service control panel.
2. The command
   DNS4NT -remove
   stops and removes the DNS server service.

Menus

Statistics

shows DNS server usage statistics.

Exit

terminates the program

Options

Preferences

General

• Log transactions: Enables transaction and error log in a file. A new file can be created daily or once per month.
• Tray Icon: A program symbol is shown on the system tray (Win9x/ME only).
• Start as service: The program runs as a user independant service on Win98/ME (Win9x/ME only).

Server
for a Backup Name server the IP address of the Primary Name server must be specified. Requests for non local names, names that can not resolved locally, are forwarded to the addresses specified as external name server addresses.
Cache
The current implementation of the server caches A, NS CNAME, and MX records. The software can modify the TTL values (valid through value of an entry) of DNS entries to improve the network and cache performance. Without any TTL entries the original values received are untouched.

• By specifying a Minimal Server TTL the valid through time of received entries is increased for entries with a smaller TTL value. The entries will remain longer in the cache and therefore improve operation, but the entry may be invalid. It makes sense for entries with a very low TTL e.g. 10 seconds. Increasing such TTL's to 300 seconds greatly enhances performance.
• By specifying a Maximum Client TTL caching of entries by clients can be reduced or avoided in favour of central caching in the DNS Server.
• The maximum number of cached entries is configurable. Least used entries are dropped from the cache is the maximum is exceeded.
• Save cache on exit writes cached information to a file CACHE.DMP. If available CACHE.DMP is used to initialize the cache on next restart of the server.
• Using the Clear cache button all cache entries are removed.

Security

Access can be granted by IP address for queries, zonetransfers, and updates.

• Queries are all types of queries to resolve a name.
• A Zonetransfer is used by a backup name server to update the database from the primary server.
• Updates are sent by DHCP Servers or DHCP clients to autmatically register an new name in the name server database. Updates must be sent to a primary name server only.

If you enable access control you need normally to include 127.0.0.1 to the addresses or the DNS client of the computer will not be able to contact the server.

Add Entry

to add new Address, Nameserver or MX(Mail) records. To remove an entry use the context menu that will appear after clicking with the right mouse button on an entry.

Local Domain

general configuration settings for the local domain. The Databese version is increased after a modification of the database automatically.

Help

Contents

starts a HTML browser displaying the manual.

Register

prompts for the license key and your name, company. Check the Info menu to find out if the license information was accepted.

Show License

displays the conditions for using this software.

Info

displays program version information.

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Support

The latest version is available on www.hanewin.de. Please mail comments, questions, problems to .