[ActiveDir] DNS Best Practices

[Santhosh Sivarajan]

Hi,   Just wanted to clear up something about the DNS installation.  This is what I am seeing in the lab.   I have a root domain called Mydomain.com and two child domains (first.mydomain.com and second.mydomain.com).  All these machines are Windows 2003. . Run DCPROMO on the first box (Mydomain.com) and select install DNS during the DCPROMO. Run DCPROMO on the second box (first.mydomain.com) and select install DNS during the DCPROMO.  It installed the DNS zone (first) on the Mydomain.com box.  Is this normal behavior?  The local TCP/IP settings point to itself as a primary DNS server.  I haven’t seen it before or maybe I didn't notice it.  From my lab experiment, the only way to install DNS locally or on the local box is to install and configure the DNS zone (first.mydomain.com) before the DCPROMO.  Is this true?   All the MS whitepapers recommend installing DNS during the DCPROMO.  I don’t really like that idea.  I always recommend installing and configuring DNS before the DCPROMO.  Does anyone know why MS recommends installing DNS during the DCPROMO?  What would be your recommendation?   Thanks, Santhosh