DC1 and DC2 Preferred and Alternate DNS Settings

[arh1a]

Can someone confirm which is the best practice as I seem to be getting mixed results looking online.

 

Setup One

 

DC01 - 10.2.2.1

Preferred DNS Server - 10.2.2.2

Alternate DNS Server - 10.2.2.1

 

DC02 - 10.2.2.2

Preferred DNS Server - 10.2.2.1

Alternate DNS Server - 10.2.2.2

 

Setup Two

 

DC01 - 10.2.2.1

Preferred DNS Server - 10.2.2.2

Alternate DNS Server - 127.0.0.1

 

DC02 - 10.2.2.2

Preferred DNS Server - 10.2.2.1

Alternate DNS Server - 127.0.0.1

 

Depending on who you ask both seem to be acceptable but just wondering what is the best way?

[Chuckster]

This is how I have mine

 

DC01 - 10.2.2.1

Preferred DNS Server - 10.2.2.1

Alternate DNS Server - 10.2.2.2

 

DC02 - 10.2.2.2

Preferred DNS Server - 10.2.2.2

Alternate DNS Server - 10.2.2.1

 

 

Under the DNS tab of ethernet properties I go one step further by adding 127.0.0.1 as the 3rd alternative.

[Michael]

Same as Chuckster for me too.

[MatthewL]

Same as Chuckster but you need to ensure DNS is on both!

 

Plus I have known it just to have its own server in DNS and not a secondary.

[arh1a]

Thanks for confirming everyone, I was getting confused as there was a lot of info on the net saying DNS PDC should point to DNS SDC and vice averse which never really made sense as how Chuckster has it setup seem the logical way.

 

I've made the changes and everything still seems ok so thanks again everyone

[Blue_Cookeh]

We have our's configered as:

 

DC1 - 10.0.0.1

DC2 - 10.0.0.2

 

DC1 Settings:

Preferred 10.0.0.2

Secondary 127.0.0.1

 

DC2 Settings:

Preferred 10.0.0.1

Secondary 127.0.0.1

 

Seems to be what the big boys do.

[JackCPickup]

Thanks for confirming everyone, I was getting confused as there was a lot of info on the net saying DNS PDC should point to DNS SDC and vice averse which never really made sense as how Chuckster has it setup seem the logical way.

 

I've made the changes and everything still seems ok so thanks again everyone

 

That's because it's recommended by the AD team at Microsoft. It's recommended to point primary DNS on both to the other one, then secondary to themselves as islanding and performance issues can occur.

[Katy]

This then brings the question... what do you do when there are four DCs? Point 1 to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, 4 to 1 (with secondaries as 127.0.0.1 on all)?

[JackCPickup]

Decide which is primary, secondary etc. then point each to them in order followed lastly by themselves.

 

A points to B, C, D then itself

B points to A, C, D, then itself

etc.

[arh1a]

That's because it's recommended by the AD team at Microsoft. It's recommended to point primary DNS on both to the other one, then secondary to themselves as islanding and performance issues can occur.

 

Ah I see well I might change them back to what Blue_Cookeh has suggested in that case. Using 127.0.0.1 as the secondary for both servers.