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DNS Configuration

The domain name system (DNS) is a hierarchical name service for TCP/IP hosts. The network administrator configures the DNS with a list of host names and IP addresses. This allows users on the network to query the DNS to specify remote systems by host names rather than IP addresses.

For example, a workstation configured to use DNS name resolution could use the command ping remotehost rather than ping 1.2.3.4 if the mapping for the system named remotehost was contained in the DNS database. DNS domains should not be confused with Microsoft Windows domains.

In the DNS client-server model, the server containing information about a portion of the DNS database, the portion that makes computer names available to clients, queries for name resolution across the Internet.

To set the server to automatically obtain DNS server information from a DHCP server

  1. On the primary navigation bar, choose Network.
  2. Choose Interfaces.
  3. Select the network connection you want to modify.
  4. In the Tasks list, choose DNS.
  5. Select the Obtain configuration from DHCP server button.
  6. Choose OK.

To manually set the DNS servers to be used by the server

  1. On the Network page, choose Interfaces.
  2. Select the network connection you want to modify.
  3. In the Tasks list, choose DNS.
  4. Select the Configure manually button.
  5. Type the appropriate IP address in the box next to the Add button, and then choose Add.
  6. To add another DNS server, repeat step 5.
  7. When you are finished adding DNS servers, choose OK.
Note   If you set the IP address to be obtained from DHCP, and you set DNS manually, the system will accept the manual input, and the properties on the server will automatically be set to Configure manually. However, the Current Configuration column of the Object/Task Selector on the Interfaces page will still show DHCP as the source of the IP address. You can go back into the DNS settings properties page to confirm that the manual configuration has been saved.

Related Topics

For more information about DNS suffixes, see DNS Suffixes. For more information about DNS name resolution, see DNS Name Resolution.