[ActiveDir] DNS - zone delegation questions

[Daniel L. Gilbert]

To All:   I apologize for the length of the question but,...   I am looking for a good reference/how-to on delegating DNS zones in Windows 2003.  My real purpose, I am hoping to learn this subject, rather than just getting the answer.  But any help will be appreciated.   I have looked in Google, TechNet, and Microsoft.com but just can't hit the right search phrase.   I am trying to get a grasp on "delegating a DNS zone in Windows 2003"   I have a Windows 2003 forest; parent.com, child1.parent.com, child2.parent.com, and child3.parent.com.   DNS currently resides only on DC1 in parent.com, zone is ADI allowing secure updates only.   On dc1.child1.parent.com, I installed DNS, made it the primary for the DNS zone; child1.parent.com.   I tried to delegate the zone using the right-click New Delegation selection but got the following error message: "A DNS domain or delegation by this name already exists.  To change an existing delegation, right-click on the delegation and select Properties.  To change a DNS domain into a delegation, delete the domain and then create the delegation"   I then deleted the child1 subzone on dc1.parent.com and used the Wizard to create a zone delegation for the child1.parent.com zone.  Wizard finished successfully.   From dc1.parent.com I can ping the dc1.child1.parent.com by name. From dc1.child2.parent.com I can ping the dc1.child1.parent.com by name. From dc1.child3.parent.com I can ping the dc1.child1.parent.com by name.   My first question is: Am I doing the zone delegation correctly?   My second question: Do I do the same steps to delegate the Reverse Zone?   Dan