Windows 7 / Server 2008 No PTR record

[storkyIV]

Hello all,

I have a strange strange problem that I can't find a solution to on the internet.
We have just setup a new 2008 domain, all member servers are 2k8. All client machines are win7.

However, all clients are registering a forward lookup, but nothing for the reverse.

DHCP is set to Dynamically update DNS A and PTR records and to discard when lease is deleted.

As a test, I have set group policy to tell the clients to manually register their PTR in computer configuration > Administrative templates > Network > DNS Client > Register PTR Record but this hasn't worked either.

In the (A) record, Update associated pointer is ticked.

There is also nothing in the DNS event logs, so I am at a loss as to what could be causing this issue.

Has anyone had experience of this issue?

[kmount]

Have you checked you have a reverse lookup zone for the ip range you're dishing out?

[storkyIV]

Hi Kim,

Yes I have, and the member servers have an entry.
However, I think that I have rectified the issue.

Basically in GP, you need to have connection specific, primary dns, register dns and register PTR all enabled in group policy.
XP did this as a matter of course, but 7 obviously doesn't!

[kmount]

Ah, nicely spotted.

Thanks for posting the solution, I'm sure it'll help others.

[ZeroHour]

Hi Kim,

Yes I have, and the member servers have an entry.
However, I think that I have rectified the issue.

Basically in GP, you need to have connection specific, primary dns, register dns and register PTR all enabled in group policy.
XP did this as a matter of course, but 7 obviously doesn't!

Hmm I dont need anything dns configed here and out new w7 boxes are making reverse entries properly, hmmm.

[john]

Hmm I dont need anything dns configed here and out new w7 boxes are making reverse entries properly, hmmm.

Agreed with you here ZH, new 2008 R2 and Win 7 LAN and no issues with PTR records, I had issues with EDNS though screwing up my DNS lookups

[PiqueABoo]

I had issues with EDNS though screwing up my DNS lookups

Can anyone explain that? IIRC that was introduced with 2K3 if not before, so why is (and it definitely is sometimes..) it hurting with 2K8R2?

[john]

Can anyone explain that? IIRC that was introduced with 2K3 if not before, so why is (and it definitely is sometimes..) it hurting with 2K8R2?

It was indeed with 2003, but it wasn't doing what it does in 2008 R2, they have been playing with it as part of 2008 R2 (as it features in its release notes) so its this new tweakage that is causing the issues.

But for me it caused major LAN issue, IE my lan just started to fall apart on me! Lookups would fail, claimed my DCs were not there, that my DNS was not working etc, now its disabled its quicker at lookups and just works, and I am glad its solved as I was starting to doubt my sanity and skills, I've setup many domains and systems and never had as many issues and tbh was feeling pritty low and thinking im useless if I cannot get a simple DNS server to work! But I found this blog: Windows Server 2008 R2 DNS Issues - Scott Forsyth's Blog and that was the same as my issues, and I just did the solution off that and its brilliant now.