Re: DNS as a Generic Cluster Service

From: Rodney R. Fournier [MVP] (rod_at_die.spam.die.nw-america.com)
Date: 12/15/04 

Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 21:46:51 -0600

Great points, let me try and give my take on the matter...

"Ramon Jiménez" <rjimenezm.athome@my.hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23ayYkMl4EHA.2124@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> Although I fully agree with most of your statements I would like to raise
> the following concerns...
>
> If I want to have high availability on DNS service...Why should I rely on
> Domain controllers? I'd rather go with a dedicated DNS server without the
> overload of being a DC
>

Note I stated that having a Primary and Secondaries would also work - those
could be UNIX boxes :) 99.999% of the installs would never benefit from a
dedicated DNS server. The Root servers, ISPs, etc. yes, the rest of the
world, no way. Running on a DC in a Microsoft shop, is the way to go.

> Once said that, and bearing in mind that a user could require dedicated
> DNS service (without) not dependant on DC's...what do not make possible
> ( by default in MSCS) to clusterize DNS Service (as you can do with DHCP)?
> That way, the Primary Zone would have high availability...
>

Again why? AD integrated makes ALL the server Primaries for the zones. Way
cool. UNIX does not have that. You want HA, use your DC's :) DNS traffic is
about 1% of all network traffic, it won't hurt your DC's.

> I have always wondered why MS did not DNS clustering by default...because
> I agree that AD relies on DNS...but if your intention is only to provide
> with a reliable and highly available DNS service, why mandatory DC's?
>

My take, and this is 100% me here. 1) They don't want you too. They want and
firmly believe that AD integrated is the way to go, all primaries are great
HA. 2) If you could cluster DNS, many would. Seems like a DUH right? Nope,
cause those that did many not get greater value from clustering. Having
DC/DNS servers all over the place is a way better design for most. 3)
Additional product to support. MS already has to do a ton of DNS support. As
you know, everything needs DNS today, adding clustering to the mix would
make more work for the DNS team, and to what end?

> Just my 0.02 cents....and acting as devil lawyer...
>

Always buddy, these topics make us all think out of the box. Like I tell
most of my MCT classes, in the world of Microsoft, if there is not 6 ways to
something, it can't be done. If you already know 2 or 3, you are missing 50%
of what is out there.

> --
> Saludos
> Ramon
> PMP, ITIL Certified
> MCSE & MCSA 2000/2003, CCA
> "Rodney R. Fournier [MVP]" <rod@die.spam.die.nw-america.com> wrote in
> message news:%23c7QdHi4EHA.1264@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> Technically yes. Have I tried it, NO. Will I ever? NO way. Do I see a
>> need to do this NO!
>>
>> If you use Active Directory Integrated DNS, then each DC will have DNS
>> and you are good to go. If you are not, you should have one or more
>> secondary copies (which you can click on and make primaries), so you are
>> good to go.
>>
>> I just don't see the business need to cluster DNS, when you other
>> supported choices.
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Rod
>>
>> MVP - Windows Server - Clustering
>> http://www.nw-america.com - Clustering
>> http://www.msmvps.com/clustering - Blog
>>
>> "Nathan Guidry" <nguidry@jjma.com> wrote in message
>> news:Ope27zf4EHA.252@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>>> Is it possible to add DNS as a Generic Service to a Cluster group?
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Relevant Pages

  • Re: FRS and DNS not replicating properly should I be worried?
    ... DNS runs as AD intigrated. ... have multiple primaries, you should have one and the rest are secondary's. ... Whereas on both the my primary dc's Zone transfers are enabled for all ... servers on the name server tab is enabled. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.active_directory)
  • Re: FRS and DNS not replicating properly should I be worried?
    ... DNS runs as AD integrated. ... have multiple primaries, you should have one and the rest are secondary's. ... Whereas on both the my primary dc's Zone transfers are enabled for all ... servers on the name server tab is enabled. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.active_directory)
  • Re: Changing Roles and DNS
    ... that depends on your requirements - if you want to configure replication ... secondary zones - only primaries can be written to and as you must not have ... all PCs would need to point to the DNS server hosting ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.active_directory)
  • Re: difference between zone transfer / reload zone
    ... are set to pull the info from one or more primary DNS. ... primaries are told who they can transfer to or are set to transfer to ... If they don't then the secondary zone is ... such a request is made the secondary copy get a full and complete reload ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.dns)
  • Re: EventID 40960, authentication error
    ... This system is a dedicated internet DNS server so wouldn't the primary ... ns1.ispdomain.com is responsable for the reverse lookup zone of my IP address ... trying to register in the reverse lookup zone. ... Unfortunately the primaries don't support dynamic updates. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.dns)