KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q193837: Windows NT 4.0 DNS Server Default Zone Security Settings

Article: Q193837
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): WinNT:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 09-AUG-2001

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

The default setting for Zone Security in the DNS server included with Microsoft
Windows NT Server is to allow zone transfer request from any client. This allows
easier configuration and setup of a new DNS server. The default settings may
allow unauthorized or undesired read access to the DNS Zone information. A
client may request a zone transfer with the Nslookup utility, or by configuring
a secondary zone on a DNS server. To restrict access, you can configure the
Microsoft DNS server to "Only allow access from secondaries included on the
notify list." This setting will limit access to the DNS server's zone
information to IP addresses specified in the notify list. This parameter is on a
per-zone basis; therefore, zones must be individually configured.

MORE INFORMATION
================

To configure zone security, use the following procedure:

1. Click Start, click Programs, click Administrative Tools (Common), and then
  click DNS Manager.

2. In DNS Manager, from the Server list, right-click the primary zone icon.

3. Click Properties.

4. Click the Notify tab.

5. In the Notify List, add the IP addresses of the secondaries that are allowed
  to access the primary.

6. Click the "Only Allow Access From Secondaries Included on the Notify List"
  check box.

For additional information about DNS zone transfers, please see the following
article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q164017 Explanation of a DNS Zone Transfer

For more information on the notify feature, please see the following article in
the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q163745 Explanation of DNS Notify List "Secondary Notification" Behavior

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.