How to manually create the default DNS partitions in Active Directory

Author: NetworkAdminKB.com
Created: 2009-11-02
Modified: 2009-11-08

Information:

Use the following information to manually create the default DNS partitions in Active Directory.

 

Method 1

Manually create the Default Application Partitions using the GUI by selecting Create Default Application Directory Partitons as shown in the screen shot below.

 

The wizard will automatically detect and prompt you to create missing partitions.

By default, only members of the Enterprise Admins group can create a DNS application directory partition.

 

Method 2

You can manually create missing Default Application Partitions using the command line using the following command.

 

dnscmd ServerName /CreateBuiltinDirectoryPartitions {/Domain|/Forest|/AllDomains}

 

/Domain implies the AD-Domain partition

/Forest implies the AD-Forest partition

/AllDomains implies the AD-Legacy partition.

 

More Information:

Technet - Create the default DNS application directory partitions

 

Contrary to what Technet says, the DNS console will always offer the option to Create Default Application Directory Partitons in the DNS console.

 

Default Application Partition Names used in DNSCMD

AD-Domain = DomainDnsZones.domain.local

            Is located here: cn=MicrosoftDNS,DC=DomainDnsZones,DC=domain,DC=local

 

AD-Forest = ForestDnsZones.root.domain.local

            Is located here: cn=MicrosoftDNS,DC=ForestDnsZones,DC=root,DC=domain,DC=local

 

AD-Legacy = doesn’t have a specified name but is located in this location of every domain in the forest.

cn=MicrosoftDNS,cn=System,DC=domain,DC=local

Change DC=domain,DC=local as needed for each domain in the forest.

 

By default, the DNS Server service will attempt to locate and create the default DNS application directory partitions in Active Directory.  If the DNS Server service is unable to do this, the administrator can manually create the application directory partitions.

Article ID: 216, Created On: 9/18/2011, Modified: 9/18/2011