How to Configure DNS on Windows Server 2012 R2

This article is dedicated to the Domain Name System or DNS server which is the heart of any enterprise network. DNS is mostly used to resolve host names to IP addresses and IP addresses to host names.

This tutorial focuses on:

1. Installing DNS server role
2. Configuring forward lookup zone
3. Configuring reverse lookup zone
4. Adding a host record in forward lookup zone
5. Adding a PTR record in reverse lookup zone

Prerequisites

For DNS server to be configured, you should meet the following requirements:

1. Administrator account has strong password
2. At least one static IP is configured
3. Current security updates from Windows Update are installed
4. Firewall is turned off

Installing DNS Server Role

Step 1: From task bar, open server manager dashboard

Figure 1

Step 2: Read the notes and meet the prerequisites. Click Next when you are done

Figure 2

Step 3: Choose Role-based or feature-based installation and click Next

Figure 3

Step 4: Select the destination server from server pool on which you want to configure DNS and click Next

Figure 4

Step 5: Choose DNS Server from server roles. When prompted to install additional necessary features along with DNS server, click Add Features

Figure 5

Step 6: Click Next

Figure 6

Step 7: Keep default selections and click Next

Figure 7

Step 8: Read the important notes and click Next

Figure 8

Step 9: Click Install. Wait for a moment before DNS role is installed

Figure 9

Configuring Forward Look Up Zone

Step 1: Open server manager dashboard, and then open tools. Scroll to DNS and click it

Figure 10

Step 2:  Right-click Forward Lookup Zones and click New Zone

Figure 11

Step 3: Click Next

Figure 12

Step 4: Provide the zone name and click Next

Figure 13

Step 5: Choose Create a new file with this file name and click Next

Figure 14

Step 6: Choose Do not allow dynamic updates and click Next

Figure 15

Step 7: Click Finish to successfully create the new zone

Figure 16

Configuring Reverse Look Up Zone

Step 1: Open server manager from task bar and click on Tools. Scroll to DNS and then click on it

Figure 17

Step 2: Right-click Reverse Lookup Zones and then click New Zone

Figure 18

Step 3: Click Next

Figure 19

Step 4: Choose Primary zone and click Next

Figure 20

Step 5: Choose IPv4 Reverse Lookup Zone and click Next

Figure 21

Step 6: Provide network ID and click Next

Figure 22

Step 7: Choose Create a new file with this file name: and click Next

Figure 23

Step 8: Choose Do not allow dynamic updates and click Next

Figure 24

Step 9: Click Finish to end the wizard

Figure 25

Adding a New Host Record in Forward Look Up Zone

Step 1: Locate the zone in forward lookup zones and right-click on it. Scroll to New Host (A or AAAA) and click on it

Figure 26

Step 2: Provide the name and click Add Host

Figure 27

Step 3: Click OK and this new host record will be visible in zone

Figure 28

Adding a New PTR Record in Forward Look Up Zone

Step 1: Right-click the desired reverse lookup zone. Scroll to New Pointer (PTR)

Figure 29

Step 2: Provide host name and click OK

Figure 30

Conclusion

In this article, I have showed the steps which are used to configure DNS server on Windows Server 2012 R2. You can test this configuration by taking a DNS client and pointing its DNS setting to this server. You should be able to resolve the host you just created.