KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q250268: Domain Name Server Generates Event ID 156

Article: Q250268
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

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

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

SYMPTOMS
========

When you check Event Viewer, you may notice that it reports the following event
logged by your Domain Name Server (DNS):

  Event ID 156:
  DNS Server does not have a cache (or database) entry for root name server. The
  cache file MUST have at least one NS record, indicating a root DNS server and
  a corresponding A record for that root DNS server. Otherwise the DNS server
  will be unable to contact the root DNS server on startup and will be unable
  to answer queries for names outside of its own authoritative zones.

CAUSE
=====

This behavior can occur when the Cache.dns file is corrupted or contains invalid
entries.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this behavior, follow these steps:

1. Stop the DNS service.

2. Rename the existing Cache.dns file in the %SystemRoot%\System32\Dns folder to
  Cache.old.

3. Copy the Cache.dns file from the %SystemRoot%\System32\Dns\Backup folder into
  the %SystemRoot%\System32\Dns folder.

4. Restart the DNS service.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : winnt:4.0
Issue type        : kbprb

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

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.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1986-2002.