Sometimes users need to independently install and configure a DNS server on the Windows 7 operating system. It can be used for work purposes, to create your own website, or for any other reason. Windows 7 is a graphical operating system (unlike Linux) whose interface is intuitive, and setting up a DNS server will not be difficult even for a person who does not have special skills. Similarly, you can fix errors with your own hands when the DNS is not responding, unavailable, or not detected.
What is a DNS server and why is it needed
DNS is nothing but Domain Name System. As the name suggests, it is a server that issues domain names to IP addresses on the Internet. All sites have their own IP, in other words, a set of numbers that allows the computer to get to Internet resources (for example, 192.168.11.231). But when the provider changes, the address changes, so how do users know where their web portal is now? This is what a DNS server is for, it gives human-readable names instead of IP and allows you to reach the desired address without knowing the set of numbers.
So, at one point you decided that you need a domain name for your mail, personal website or FTP server. You will need to install and configure a DNS server so that your host can be found without the complicated memorization of a set of numbers.
Where to find and how to enable DNS on Windows 7
The user under whose name all the following operations will be performed must have administrator rights on the computer.
- In the Start menu, the first thing you need to do is go to the Control Panel.
- If the control panel has a reduced view, then in the “Network and Internet” item, pay attention to “View network status and tasks”. If you have all the control panel items in a single list displayed by default, use the "Network and Sharing Center".
- In the "View active networks" section, find the connection thanks to which you have access to the Internet (the one after "Connection") and click on it.
- A new window will open in front of you, which displays all the settings for the selected connection. Click the Properties button.
- Among the checked components used by the connection, find "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" or "Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)" and click the "Properties" button.
- Activate the item "Use the following DNS server addresses" and type in the text field the address of your server and an additional one if the first one is inactive.
- After that, do not forget to click "OK" to save your changes.
When it becomes necessary to change
Usually everyone uses the DNS server of their provider, but it does not always provide good download speeds. In addition, such mechanisms often cannot cope with the load and “fall”, thereby limiting your access to the worldwide network. Free services such as Yandex.DNS or Google Public DNS will help you get around this problem.
These are the two largest companies that can afford high-quality equipment and cope even with heavy loads. Their servers are located in different parts of our country and the world. Thanks to this, as well as to the smart distribution of requests, the signal goes to the nearest available server and the pages on the Internet are loaded several times faster than the provider. In addition, such services have many other settings: filtering, parental control, built-in antivirus and user blacklist.
In connection with the introduction of new laws in the Russian Federation, providers are required to block access to certain sites. Many people already know ways to bypass this limitation, and one of them is a DNS server. The law did not affect companies providing DNS connection services, which means that they have another advantage over providers.
How to set up or change
At one of the stages, you entered the server address and an alternative one. This is necessary because domain names from all over the world cannot be stored in one place. When the computer searches DNS for the requested name, it bypasses several servers in order, which you can specify yourself in the "DNS server addresses in order of use" text box. There can be not only two sets of numbers entered initially, but also several additional ones.
DNS suffixes are needed to form internal networks, subdomain names (for example, subdomain.domain.com). If you only need the server to connect to the Internet, you can skip this setting and leave it as the default. If you use, for example, an internal work network, enter the suffixes of its subdomains in the appropriate field.
The enabled setting "Register the address of this connection in DNS" means that your computer will be registered on the server with its address and the name of the device specified in the settings. You can find out what the name of your device is in the "Control Panel" in the "System" item. The enabled item "Use the connection's DNS suffix when registering in DNS" will append an additional suffix to the name of your computer on the network.
How to change the DNS server: the necessary settings on the video
In what cases DNS may not respond and what should be done
DNS service is disabled
Maybe the DNS on your device just isn't working. You need to check the settings of system services, for this:
- In the Start menu, find "Control Panel".
- Select System and Security.
- In the next window, click on "Administration".
- You will see a list of all available programs, select "Services".
- Find "DNS Client" and double click on it.
- Pay attention to the "Startup type" - this item must have the "Automatic" setting.
- Don't forget to save after changing by clicking OK.
DNS server failure
If all the necessary services are enabled, and the DNS server still does not respond, then it is faulty. In this case, it is recommended to change it. To do this, you need to follow the same steps as when connecting the server, but instead of the old address, enter a new one.
How to fix possible DNS server errors: video
What is a DHCP server and how is it different from DNS
When setting up a DNS server, you often came across the abbreviation DHCP. What is it and what is it for?
DHCP stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. It is a network protocol that automatically assigns the correct IP addresses and other settings to computers on a network. For example, a network administrator can specify a range that hosts should be in. This greatly speeds up the setup of a large computer network and avoids many errors.
Unlike DNS, this protocol only deals with IP addresses and their settings. Together, these services are a very powerful service and greatly facilitate the work of system administrators.
A DNS server is needed to store the domain names of various IP addresses on the Internet. Its use has many advantages: faster loading, flexible settings, bypassing resource blocking. It is not at all difficult to establish its work in the Windows 7 operating system. And almost any connection problem is solved by turning on the service or changing the server.
DNS (Domain Name System) is a system for converting domain names into IP addresses. The DNS server contains records of matching certain domain names (host names) to corresponding IP addresses. The DNS system is used both on the Internet and on the local network.
Setting up DNS on a computer
1 Right-click the network icon in the taskbar.
2 Select Network and Sharing Center:
4 Press the button Properties:
5 Find an item in the list Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and select it with the left mouse button.
6 Press the button Properties:
7 Set the switch to Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically if a DHCP server is running on your network.
Otherwise, set the switch to Use the following DNS server addresses and enter the server addresses.
8 Press OK:
9 Press the button close in the window Ethernet:Properties to apply settings:
10 Press the button close in the window Status - Ethernet:
Setting up DNS on the router
If computers in your local network are connected to the Internet through a router, then the internal IP of the router must be specified as the DNS server on the computers (for example, 192.168.0.1). All you need for this is an enabled DHCP server and an enabled DNS relay option.
Check DNS settings in WAN port configuration:
Enter the LAN port configuration:
Check your DNS relay settings:
What is DNS relay and what is it for?
DNS relay is a DNS relay function. If the function is enabled, the router itself will be used as the DNS server. The router's DNS service will resolve not only Internet names, but also internal names on the local network.
If the function is disabled, computers will be given the provider's DNS server or the server specified manually in the WAN port settings. At the same time, computers will not be able to address each other by host name, because. the provider's servers do not have information about matching internal IP addresses with computer names within the local network.
DNS setup: video
Sometimes it becomes very annoying that you cannot use the Internet due to a completely banal “dns server is not responding” error. In the vast majority of cases, when it is not possible to find the dns address of the server, the problem can be solved in a matter of minutes. In this article, we will consider in detail all the ways to solve this problem.
DNS server is a utility that redirects a Web user to a website. The fact is that any Internet page is stored on a server that has its own IP address. To grant a user access to a site, a DNS server connects the user's computer to the server. In other words, the DNS server is the link between the user and the site.
Errors "dns server not responding" or "cannot find dns address"
Often the browser complains that it cannot find the dns address of the server. This message occurs most often for desktop users using a cableless connection (3G/LTE modem or Wi-Fi router). However, it can also appear for those who use wired Internet. This error means that the unit from which the user accesses the site cannot find a DNS address that will redirect him to the server with the page in question.
What to do if the dns server is not responding or unavailable
Before trying to solve this problem, you must first find out why it occurred:
- Due to incorrect modem or router settings;
- Due to incorrect settings of the operating system (the site is blocked by a virus or firewall, or the Windows DNS client has failed);
- Due to an outdated network card driver.
To do this, go to the network control panel located in the lower right corner of the task bar. It has a monitor icon with an Enternet cable next to it. Click on it with the left mouse button. Next, right-click the manipulator on the field where it says "Connected", then go to "Properties". We click on the “Network” tab and go to the “Properties” item, after clicking on “Internet Protocol version four”. In the tab with DNS addresses, try selecting the option "Load DNS server on the machine." If this does not help, then enter the address (preferred and alternative) yourself. It is written in contractual connection certificates. The DNS address can also be obtained from the provider by calling him.
Advice: the correct DNS address can be registered not only in the Windows settings, but also in the control panel of the router itself. If you are using the software utilities from TP-LINK, please use the Quick Setup option.
Often a virus, carelessly uploaded by a user, blocks access to other sites. To check the system for existing malware, you should scan it with an antivirus. At the same time, it is better to scan with a program that does not require installation on a desktop and is located on a Live-CD or Live-flash drive (Live media are storages that are independent of the main system). For such purposes, we can recommend Dr. Web CureIt! Portable anti-malware is good because, being placed on a Live-CD or Live-flash drive, it cannot be infected with viruses.
Firewall settings
There is a possibility that access to the site was blocked by the native Windows Farewall or the firewall (another name for the firewall) that comes with your antivirus. The firewall blocks access to sites that it considers malicious. If you know that the blocked page is really safe, then you can disable the firewall for a while or reset its settings to the initial ones (then the list of blocked pages will be reset). How to turn off the Microsoft firewall? Click Control Panel->Windows and Security->Windows Firewall. In the left panel there will be an item "Turn Windows Firewall on or off". Click it, then move all the toggle switches to "Turn off Windows Firewall". Save these settings.
Advice: Windows Firewall is key. Turning it off will disable other firewalls.
Update network card drivers
Often the desktop refuses to go online due to outdated network card drivers. In order to check their status, use the Driver Booster utility. This application will help you find not only drivers for network controllers and install them, but also update the functionality of other components.
Advice: you can update the network card drivers and standard Windows utilities. Go to "Devices and Printers", then double-click the left mouse button on your desktop icon. In the "Hardware" tab, find the components marked as "Network adapters" and go to their "Properties". There, click on "Driver" and select "Update".
This method consists in resetting the desktop and router settings. The sequence of actions is as follows: you need to disconnect the router from the 220V network and leave it unconnected for 5 minutes. Next, you need to restart the computer and connect the router back to the outlet.
Advice: before turning off the router, you should go to its settings menu and reset the default settings.
This problem can be fixed in two ways. The first - the least painful - is to register the DNS address not through the Windows Control Panel, but through the router menu. The second is to perform a system restore. Go to the Control Panel, then - "System and Security" - "Restore a previously saved desktop state." In a few minutes, when the utility collects all the registered backup points, you need to select one of them. Near each point the date of its creation is registered. Select the one when the DNS client functioned normally and confirm the system reset.
How to find dns server address
The correct DNS address is specified in the contract for connecting the desktop to the Web. It is compiled by the provider, so the possibility of error is excluded. If there is no access to the certificate, then you can call the provider or contact him through the technical support service and ask him to provide the exact DNS address again.
Where can I set the dns server address in Windows
It can be configured through Windows utilities (path: network icon in the taskbar - "Settings" - "Network" - "Internet Protocol v4" - "Properties" - tab with DNS addresses) or through the control panel of your router or modem.
Programs for setting up a DNS server
If the dns server is unavailable, then the DNS Jumper utility will help fix this problem. Its advantage is that it is portable and does not require installation. In the "Select DNS Server" tab, you can select the DNS address manually or leave the choice to the utility itself. In this case, DNS Jumper will select the most stable and fastest server at the moment, and the “windows dns server is not responding” fault will be removed. You can also download the DOT VPN add-on to your browser. This extension allows you to choose not only the address, but also the country from which the user will enter. That is, you can physically be in Germany, but go to the site as a resident of the Netherlands. A very useful extension, since some pages are blocked by state governments, and DOT VPN allows you to bypass this ban. Similar functionality has "VPN Setup" in the Opera browser. It turns on like this: Settings-> Security-> VPN (switch the toggle switch to "Enable" and select "Optimal location").
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DNS (Domain Name System) is a domain name system that is presented on servers in the form of a certain hierarchy. When working on a network, it is possible to make errors in the operation of domains, which is why it is the change in the server used that will save. In Windows 7, it is possible to configure a DNS server and change its parameters, which is done very simply, in just a couple of steps.
Purpose of DNS
Computing devices do not understand our language, as well as the address that we enter in the search bar of the browser we use. The computer understands only IP - the code designation of the client (user). Such information is provided to the server in the form of a binary number system, for example, 00100010.11110000.00100000.11111110. This set of numbers is automatically converted to the decimal system, already for our understanding. In this case with the example above, it would be 255.103.0.68.
It is extremely difficult for clients to remember even such a set. Therefore, when registering a domain on the relevant resources, we come up with some kind of letter designation.
After registering a domain, we get both a literal expression of the future site, and a numerical one, presented in the form of a binary or decimal number system.
When a user sends a request to the server (indicates the address in the search bar), it goes to the DNS server - where the site's domain is stored. The system automatically searches for matches, and if everything is fine, then we get to the site.
All computer queries are made using DNS Among other things, this address ensures the safety of the user while surfing the net. Thus, we protect ourselves from various kinds of malicious software. If this setting is disabled on the computer, then the client will not be able to access a particular resource on the network.
When to change the DNS address and where to get it
By default, the computer has the option to automatically obtain a DNS address enabled. This setting is optimal for most users. Only in exceptional situations should it be changed. For example, when you need to access a specific resource on which you have been blocked.
Some servers may be located quite far from the hosting. This has a direct impact on the page loading speed of the site. It is recommended to use free addresses, which you can easily get from many search engines. For many users, this will be the best way out of this situation. Ideal: Yandex.DNS or Google Public DNS. In this case, the connection will be made through the nearest server.
Yandex.DNS or Google Public DNS services are free to use and very reliable It is most advisable to change the DNS address for owners of their own resources. When a user sets this information in the site domain, it automatically "tells" the entire global Internet community about the location of the resource so that it can be found, opened and read the information stored there.
Changing the DNS will allow you to access blocked sites.
The same addresses from Yandex and Google are not bound by any obligations with Roskomnadzor, unlike Internet providers that provide you with the opportunity to operate the network.
How to find out DNS and where it is located
As with most system settings, you can find information about the DNS server through the control panel.
Open the "Control Panel" via the "Start" menu
Select the active network that is responsible for connecting to the Internet
Click on "Properties"
Highlight "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)" and click on "Properties"
Automatic acquisition of an IP address is optimal for many usersIn order to set a new address, you should re-do the manipulations that were mentioned above (get into the properties of "Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP / IPv4)").
You need to change the checkbox from "Obtain DNS server address automatically" to "Use the following DNS server addresses" and enter the desired address.
Check "Use the following DNS server addresses" and set the DNS address you need
Such options should be changed with extreme care and attention. Analyze DNS servers in advance and better stop using little-known ones.
Video: Installing a DNS Server
DNS setup
Setting and changing the address is carried out in the same way as obtaining information about it. First, you again need to get into the "Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP / IPv4)" properties. You can configure and change the DNS server in the "Advanced ..." tab.
In the "Advanced" tab, you can independently change the order in which the client contacts the servers You should know that all sites and domains are stored on different servers, and there are a huge number of them. Thus, if you specify a certain address, and it is not located on one server, then the machine automatically switches to another, and so on, until the desired result is found.
You can configure DNS suffixes, but it's better not to change anything in this setting unless necessary.
DNS suffixes are only needed by network providers to provide various levels of access, since the address of any site can be divided into several parts.
Domain levels are counted from the end, for example, there are three levels in the server.domain.com address and server is the third.
You don't need to configure anything here without the need, since everything should already be done for you. You run the risk that you will completely lose access to most sites and have to configure everything again.
DNS Server Not Responding: How to Fix Problems in Windows 7
This is one of the most popular problems that users may encounter while surfing the Internet. By the way, it is not the most pleasant, since there can be many reasons for its appearance. Such problems can be solved in several ways.
First of all, you need to check whether the corresponding service is activated on the personal computer.
If the automatic startup type has already been set, then the problem is not with your computer, but is on the side of the server you are using. You can get rid of the malfunction by changing the address, as described above.
It is best to use search engine addresses: the address from Google is 8.8.8.8, and from Yandex is 77.88.8.1.
One of the described options should definitely help. If this still does not happen, update the network adapter drivers and check the cable connection to the computer. If that doesn't work, call your ISP.
If the error is presented as bad DNS name resolution, you will also need to change the address.
What is a DHCP server and how is it different from DNS
DNS is part of DHCP, which is a much more advanced system. DHCP deals with the organization of the network used, the distribution of IP addresses and the creation of a network ecosystem. It contains a variety of information that it processes and exploits in the future: host IP address, gateway IP address, and information about the DNS server. All these parameters are configured by the system automatically, and it is not recommended to resort to changing them.
DNS is designed to transmit IP addresses, obtain information about resources and connect to them. If necessary, any user can change the address in order to speed up the network, protect their computer from unwanted consequences and optimize the operation of sites in general. All this is possible by changing the domain server.
Now we will install the server role DNS server on operating system Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter, then we will create a forward lookup zone, and also remember what DNS is in general and what it is for.
And before installing and configuring a DNS server, let's remember what a DNS and a DNS server are. Since there is a lot of such information on the Internet, we will consider this briefly and get straight to the point. Let me remind you that in previous articles we considered installing Windows Server 2012 R2 and installing and configuring a DHCP server on the same operating system, now we continue and we have a DNS server next in line.
What is DNS and DNS server?
DNS (Domain Name System) is a domain name system that allows you to find out the IP address of a host by a domain name and vice versa. Since each computer or network device has its own IP address, and in order to access a particular computer or device, you need to know this IP address accordingly, but since it is not convenient to remember a certain sequence of numbers, and how if, for example, you are accessing many computers (it’s simply not realistic to remember), therefore, in order not to remember these numbers, there is a domain name system, for example, which is better for perception 192.168.1.1 or mycomp. This is such a simple definition, but as material for beginner administrators, this is quite enough.
DNS server- This is a network service or, in a simple way, software that provides and maintains the DNS. The DNS server may be responsible for a specific zone in which the corresponding computers are located. And since the DNS system is hierarchical, the DNS server can redirect the request to the upstream server if it cannot determine the ip address of the host by the domain name.
Enough theory, and since the material is devoted specifically to installing the DNS server role, let's go directly to this.
Note! As the name implies, we will install the DNS server on Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter, but we will use, as in previous articles, an evaluation version.
Installing a DNS server on Windows Server 2012 R2
Step 1
Open Server Manager and select " Add roles and features»
Step 2
Nothing needs to be done on the next window, this window is a simple reminder to the administrator that the administrator account must be protected by a strong password, that all the latest updates must be installed, by the way, you can make this window not appear next time, To do this, check the corresponding box. And press " Further»
Step 3
At this step, you also do not need to do anything, everything is selected correctly by default exactly as we need it, click " Further»
Step 4
Then you have to select the server on which the DNS server role will be installed, since I have one server, I select it, click " Further»
Step 5
It’s just at this step that you need to choose which roles we will install, and we will accordingly install the DNS server role, so we select it
Then we will immediately be prompted to install DNS server administration tools, and since I will administer it on the same server, I click " Add Components", so that in the next step they are not searched for and not forcibly selected. And if you administer the DNS server from another server, then you can not add these tools, but add them accordingly on the server from which the configuration and management will be carried out.
Step 6
Step 7
On the next window, we are told what to look for when installing the DNS server role, click " Further»
Step 8
We confirm the installation by pressing the button " Install”, you do not need to check the box “Automatically restart the server” in this case.
That's all the installation began
It will not last long for about 3 minutes, and the following message will appear, click " close»
That's it, the DNS server role is installed. To launch the DNS server management tools, use Server Manager->Tools->DNS
Or via the start menu
The control itself looks like this
Create a forward lookup zone on DNS Server 2012 R2
On the "Forward Lookup Zones" group, right-click and select " Create a new zone»
After we start the wizard for creating a new zone, click " Further»
In the next window, select the type of our zone, you can see the description directly under each type, I choose " main» press « Further»
Then we have to write the name of our zone, in my case, since the server is a test one, I will choose the name local, You, in turn, write the name of your domain, or if your domain does not have Internet access, in other words, local (purely on your network), then in principle you can write anything you like.
Then you have to select the “Type of dynamic update”, I will prohibit this functionality for now, but later I can always enable it, and you can enable it if, for example, you have a DNS server only for your local network, click “ Further»
The final window, which tells us that everything is ready, we accordingly press " Ready»
That's all the zone has been created, let's create a record of type A, for example, for our own server. To do this, right-click on the zone and click " Create Node A or AAAA»
Then we enter the name of our node, which we want it to have, and, accordingly, what its IP address is, this is already in fact. Click " Add Node»
A message will appear stating that the node has been created.
And the corresponding entry will appear
Then do not forget to check which dns server is installed in our network interface settings (it must be ours, respectively, i.e. the ip address of this server). Then, accordingly, we can check the operation of the newly installed DNS server, for example, run the command line and try to ping the node that we created a little earlier
As you can see, the system recognized its IP address by the domain name. And this is where I propose to end. Good luck!
