Add a reverse dns lookup zone using command line

Reverse dns lookups are performed to resolve IP to DNS Host names. In windows 2003, DNS clients perform reverse dns ip lookup to resolve IP address with DNS Names. Reverse dns lookup zones play inevitable role for secure applications which require the validation of IP addresses to it's target DNS names.

dnscmd.exe is used to add reverse dns lookup zone to a DNS. The following illustrates on how to create reverse dns lookup zone.

1. Assume the dns server is for which reverse lookup zone to be created is "dnsserver", network id is "192.168.1.*".

2. To create active directory integrated reverse lookup zone, run the following command

dnscmd dnsserver /zoneadd 1.168.192.in-addr.arpa /DSPrimary

Verify the reverse zone created in the dns manager console.

3. To create standard file based reverse lookup zone, do the following

i. Create a file named "1.168.192.in-addr.arpa.dns" with NS and SOA records for dnsserver in it as shown below

ii. run the following to create reverse lookup zone from file

dnscmd dnsserver /zoneadd 1.168.192.in-addr.arpa /Primary /file %systemroot%\system32\dns\168.192.in-addr.arpa.dns /load

There exists many reverse dns lookup tools. nslookup is a command which is used to perform to reverse dns lookup on command prompt. if reverse dns lookup failed with nslookup command, you can use free online reverse dns lookup tools to perform reverse dns lookup test.

To add Pointer (PTR) resource record to reverse lookup zone on command prompt, follow the link Create PTR record in reverse lookup zone on command line