A Zebra Technologies White Paper

Configure Dynamic DNS on

Windows Server 2008

Overview
This white paper provides an overview of Dynamic DNS and describes the steps required in configuring Dynamic
DNS on Windows server 2008.
All devices that are on a TCP/IP network are assigned an IP address. The IP addresses can be assigned by
manually configuring each of the devices or by using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server.
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a network protocol that enables a server to automatically
assign an IP address to a computer from a defined range of numbers configured for a given network.
Domain Name System (DNS) server maintains the records to map IP address to host name and vice versa.
By enabling Dynamic DNS, the DHCP server will update the records on the DNS server whenever a device
changes the IP address.
Dynamic DNS allows you to address a device with the same host name even if the IP address of the device is
changed. For DHCP and DNS Servers, a Static IP must be assigned. The following are the main steps involved
in configuring dynamic DNS on Windows Server 2008.
1. Configure Static IP
2. Install and configure DHCP Server
3. Install and configure DNS Server

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

Configure Static IP
Open Network and Sharing Center from control panel and Click Manage Network Connections.

Select the network connection that you want to configure, and Click Properties.

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), and then click Properties.

Enter the desired IP address. A default value for subnet mask is entered automatically. Type the subnet
mask that you want to use. Enter the IP address of your default gateway and enter the IP address of the
DNS server.

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

Install and configure DHCP Server

Click Add Roles from the Initial Configuration Tasks window or from Server Manager.

Select the DHCP Server Role and Click Next.

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

Select the desired Static IP address and Click Next.

Enter the Parent Domain (desired domain name) and the IP address of the DNS server and Click Next. In
this case we entered the same IP address DNS will also be running on the same machine.

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

If WINS server is required enter the details otherwise select first option and Click Next.

Click Add to add a DHCP server scope (A DHCP scope is a valid range of IP addresses in a subnet). Enter
your scope details and select check box next to Activate this scope option and Click Ok.

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

Select to enable IPV6 for this server or to disable IPV6 for your DHCP server and Click Next.

Confirm the DHCP settings and Click Install. Close the window after installation is complete.

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

Once the DHCP server is started, the address leases to the devices on the network can be viewed from
DHCP under Administrative tools.

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

Install and configure DNS Server

Click Add Roles from the Initial Configuration Tasks window or from Server Manager.

Select the DNS Server Role and Click Next and Install.

10

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

After installing DNS, the DNS server has to be configured. DNS Servers maintain different type of records. A
(address) record maps a host name to an IP address. PTR (pointer) record creates a pointer that maps and IP
address to a hostname for reverse lookups. A forward lookup zone creates the A records. A reverse lookup zone
creates the PTR records.
Configure forward lookup zone
Open DNS manager from administrative tools and Select Forward lookup zone and Click New Zone.

11

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

Select Primary Zone and Click Next.

Enter a Zone name and Click Next.

12

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

Enter the file name for the zone and Click Next.

Select to Allow both nonsecure and secure dynamic updates and Click Next.

13

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

The configuration setup for forward lookup zone is completed.

Configure reverse lookup zone

Similarly open DNS manager from administrative tools and Select Reverse lookup zone and Click New
Zone. Select Primary Zone and Click Next.

14

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

Select IPv4 Reverse Lookup Zone and Click Next.

Enter the network ID of the zone and Click Next.

15

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

By default, the file name would be set based on the network ID and Click Next.

Select to Allow both nonsecure and secure dynamic updates and Click Next.

16

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

The configuration setup for reverse lookup zone is completed.

This completes the Dynamic DNS configuration on Windows server 2008.

The A records and PTR records can be viewed in the DNS manager as Shown below.

17

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

18

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

Document Control
Version
1.0

Date
10th August 2011

Description
Initial release

Disclaimer
All links and information provided within this document are correct at time of writing
Created for Zebra Global ISV Program by Zebra Development Services

CORPORATE
HEADQUARTERS
Zebra Technologies
Corporation
475 Half Day Road,
Suite 500
Lincolnshire
IL 60069 USA
T: +1 847 634 6700
+1 800 268 1736
F: +1 847 913 8766

www.zebra.com

USA
Zebra Technologies

Corporation
333 Corporate Woods Parkway
Vernon Hills, IL 60061-3109
U.S.A.
T: +1 847 793 2600 or
+1 800 423 0442
F: +1 847 913 8766

LATIN AMERICA Zebra

Technologies
International, LLC
9800 NW 41st Street,
Suite 200
Doral, FL 33178 USA
T: +1 305 558 8470
F: +1 305 558 8485
EMEA
Zebra Technologies Europe
Limited
Dukes Meadow

Millboard Road
Bourne End
Buckinghamshire SL8 5XF, UK
T: +44 (0)1628 556000
F: +44 (0)1628 556001

EUROPE
France, Germany, Italy,
Netherlands, Poland, Spain,
Sweden

ASIA-PACIFIC
Zebra Technologies
Asia Pacific, LLC
120 Robinson Road
#06-01 Parakou Building
Singapore 068913
T: +65 6858 0722
F: +65 6885 0838

ASIA-PACIFIC
Australia, China, Japan, South
Korea

OTHER LOCATIONS
USA
California, Georgia, Rhode
Island, Texas, Wisconsin

Copyrights
2010 ZIH Corp. Zebra and the Zebra head graphic are registered trademarks of ZIH
Corp
All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

19

A Zebra Technologies White Paper

LATIN AMERICA
Argentina, Brazil, Florida (USA),
Mexico
AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST India, Russia,
South Africa, United Arab Emirates

P/N: 0000000 (01/10)