How do you migrate or update your DNS policies and split views without disrupting service?

1 What are DNS policies and split views?

DNS policies are rules that determine how your DNS server handles incoming and outgoing queries based on factors such as source IP, time, protocol, or record type. For example, you can use DNS policies to redirect traffic to different servers based on geographic location, or to block queries from certain IP ranges. Split views are a special type of DNS policy that allow you to serve different versions of your zone data to different clients based on their identity or network. For example, you can use split views to create an internal and an external view of your domain, or to provide different answers to queries from different devices.

2 Why use DNS policies and split views?

DNS policies and split views can be beneficial for your DNS infrastructure in terms of performance, security, and availability. You can optimize response time and load by directing queries to the nearest or most suitable server, or caching different records for different clients. Additionally, you can protect your DNS server from attacks or abuse by filtering or blocking unwanted queries, or hiding sensitive information from unauthorized clients. Furthermore, you can ensure your DNS server's reliability and resilience by routing queries to backup or failover servers, or providing alternate answers in case of failures or errors.

3 How to create DNS policies and split views?

In order to create DNS policies and split views, you need to use the DNS Policy cmdlets in Windows PowerShell or the DNS Manager GUI in Windows Server. You can also utilize the DNS Policy Wizard to simplify the process of creating various types of policies and views. The essential steps include defining the criteria for your policy or view, such as the source IP, query name, record type, or client subnet. Additionally, you must define the action for your policy or view, like the server to forward the query to, the response to send back, or the zone to use. Lastly, you must apply the policy or view to your DNS server or zone and specify its order and scope.

4 How to migrate or update DNS policies and split views?

Carefully planning and thoroughly testing are essential when migrating or updating your DNS policies and split views. Consider the impact of your changes on your existing DNS configuration and clients. To ensure success, you should backup your DNS configuration and data before making any changes, and have a rollback plan in case of problems. It's also recommended to use a test environment or a subset of clients to verify your changes before applying them to your production environment. The Test-DnsPolicy cmdlet can be used to validate policies and views, while the Get-DnsServerDiagnostics cmdlet can be used to monitor DNS server performance and health after applying them. When applying or removing policies and views, use the -Force parameter with caution as it can override existing settings and cause conflicts or errors. The -PassThru parameter can provide feedback on the status and result of your changes, while the -WhatIf parameter can be used to preview them without actually applying them.

5 How to troubleshoot DNS policies and split views?

Troubleshooting DNS policies and split views requires the right tools and methods. The Resolve-DnsName cmdlet is useful for testing the server's response to different queries, with the -DnssecOk parameter verifying the DNSSEC validation status. The DnsCmd.exe tool can query the server's settings and statistics, while the /Info, /Config, /ZoneInfo, and /EnumRecords parameters can provide details on policies and views. Additionally, DNS Server event logs can reveal errors or warnings related to policies and views, which can be filtered and analyzed with Event Viewer or Get-WinEvent cmdlet. Finally, network capture tools such as Wireshark or NetMon can capture and examine DNS traffic between the server and clients, allowing filters and parsers to isolate any issues or anomalies.