Tag Archives: dns

Warning: DNS: The DNS server should have scavenging enabled

Symptom: When running the Microsoft Best Practice Analyzer on Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2012 R2, you receive the following recommendation/warning:

Severity: Warning
DNS: The DNS server should have scavenging enabled.
Server 2012 - BPA - The DNS server should have scavenging enabled

What is DNS scavenging?

Per Microsoft: Scavenging automates the deletion of old records. When scavenging is disabled, these records must be deleted manually or the size of the DNS database can become large and have an adverse effect on performance.

Solution: Complete the following steps below to enable scavenging of DNS records.

  1. Click Start (right click Start if in Server 2012), and select Run
    Server 2012 - Run
  2. Type dnsmgmt.msc and click OK
    Run - dnsmgmt-msc
  3. Right click on your server and select Properties
    DNS Manager - Properties
  4. Click on the Advanced tab and check Enable automatic scavenging of stale records
    DNS Manager - Properties - Advanced - Enable automatic scavenging of stale records
  5.  Click OK

Notes: The official KB article from Microsoft can be found here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff807390(v=ws.10).aspx

Lync 2013 - DNS Settings

If you are setting up Lync Server for the first time or have been running Lync Server, you will notice that Lync depends heavily on DNS records.  In many cases, a Lync deployment cannot be setup correctly without using a split-dns setup and using a masked UPN; which can make things even more tricky.  Here is a complete listing of DNS records I used to deploy Lync 2013.  I have verifed federation works properly, IMs, conferencing, dial-in meetings, mobile and desktop client sign-in, and desk phones.  Note, records indicated in Red are records that are required/standard in every lync deployment.

Internal DNS Records

Record Type Value Points to
A lyncdiscoverinternal.mydomain.com Lync front end server
A lyncdiscover.mydomain.com Lync reverse proxy
(needed for mobile devices to work interally)
A lync.mydomain.com Lync front end server
A sip.mydomain.com Lync front end server
(multiple A records if enterprise pool)
A dialin.mydomain.com Lync front end server
A meet.mydomain.com Lync front end server
SRV _ntp._udp.mydomain.com Domain Controller/Time Server
SRV _sip._tls.mydomain.com sip.mydomain.com
SRV _xmpp-server._tcp.mydomain.com sip.mydomain.com
SRV _sipinternaltls.mydomain.com sip.mydomain.com
SRV _sipfederationtls.mydomain.com sip.mydomain.com

**Note, you should have A records for all of the hosts in your Lync deployment (front end servers, pools, proxies, etc.).  Those are not covered in the list as they are 100% user defined when deploying Lync.

External DNS Records

Record Type Value Points to
A webconf.mydomain.com Edge server IP as specified in setup wizard
A av.mydomain.com Edge server IP as specified in setup wizard
A sip.mydomain.com Edge server IP as specified in setup wizard
A meet.mydomain.com Lync Reverse Proxy IP
A dialin.mydomain.com Lync Reverse Proxy  IP
A lync.mydomain.com Lync Reverse Proxy IP
A lyncdiscover.mydomain.com Lync Reverse Proxy IP
SRV _sip._tls.mydomain.com sip.mydomain.com
SRV _sipfederationtls._tcp.mydomain.com sip.mydomain.com
SRV _xmpp-server._tcp.mydomain.com sip.mydomain.com

 

DNS name does not exist. - Windows Activiation

Issue:
When activating Windows (in this case Server 2008 R2), you receive the following dialog box:
"Code: 0x8007232B Description: DNS name does not exist."

Solution:

If you receive this error, you are more than likely using an ISO from the Microsoft Volume Licensing Center when in reality you want to just use your license key (the OS is looking for your KMS server (Key management services), and if you don't have one, then you receive this DNS failure).

How to:

  1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, and then right-click Command Prompt.
    1. Click Run as administrator.
  2. Execute the following command (where the X's are your license key :)):
    1. slmgr -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
  3. You should get a popup saying the key has successfully been installed after you execute the command (there is a delay).  Once you see that, go ahead and activate windows as you normally would.
    1. Start->right click properties on My Computer->Activate...