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Edit an "A record" for an active Windows Server in DNS/Active Directory?

Question

Thursday, March 8, 2018 8:54 PM

We have an Active Directory domain with two Windows servers running IIS and some workstations. We have a Windows server named "TEST1" with an IP address of 10.0.0.246.  We have a second Windows server named "TEST2" with an IP address of 10.0.0.247.  We would like any requests for TEST1 to go to TEST2.  For example: http://test1/ would pull up the website on TEST2, not TEST1.  We do not want to rename TEST1 or bring it offline/remove from Active Directory.  TEST1 needs to be available even as all requests to TEST1 go DIRECTLY to TEST2 (no redirection from IIS allowed in this case).  

Here's what i tried doing. I changed the DNS record for TEST1 (the 'A' record), changing the IP address from 10.0.0.246 to 10.0.0.247.  That seemed to work just fine for 24 hours, but then something happened and the DNS record for TEST1 reverted back to it's original IP.  Did Windows or AD fix it?  Can i break that without too much going wrong?  Is there another option?  Or am i going to have to have the TEST1 server give up it's name (either rename it, or remove it from AD) for me to have a DNS record for TEST1 point to the new IP address (TEST2)?

All replies (5)

Thursday, March 8, 2018 9:10 PM

Hi Jrauman 

Changing the address will only be a temporary change untill the TEST1 server connects back to the DNS server and updates the record. Usually i would create CNAME record but that wouldn't work here as the orginal server is still up and you want to access it. The best option would be to either rename the server to something else or setup a redirect on IIS. 

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Friday, March 9, 2018 2:04 AM

Do you know anything about the "Register this connection in DNS" checkbox?  If i uncheck it, can i change the DNS 'A' record without the server changing it back?

Friday, March 9, 2018 9:01 AM

Hi jrauman,

Thanks for your question.

Would you like to redirect all requests from TEST1 web site to TEST2 web site? From my perspective, it maybe cause problems potentially if create DNS record with different name pointing to the same IP address.

I suggestion that you might redirect all clients by setting HTTP Redirects on TEST1. Please refer to the following article and the exhibit:

HTTP Redirects <httpRedirect>

/en-us/iis/configuration/system.webserver/httpredirect/

In addition, >> Do you know anything about the "Register this connection in DNS" checkbox?  If I uncheck it, can I change the DNS 'A' record without the server changing it back?

If uncheck “Register this connection in DNS ”, the client wouldn’t update its DNS record automatically if its address changes. So you could try this method for IIS service redirect. I will also create a similar test as yours in my lab and once update to you.

Hope the information above helpful. Highly appreciate your effort and time. If you have any questions and concerns, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

Wish you have a weekend!

Best regards,

Michael

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Tuesday, March 13, 2018 10:57 AM

Hi Jrauman,

How are things going on? Was your issue resolved?

Please let us know if you would like further assistance.

Wish you have a nice day!

Best regards,

Michael

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Thursday, March 15, 2018 10:12 AM

Hi Jrauman,

How are things going on? Was your issue resolved?

Please let us know if you would like further assistance.

Wish you have a nice day!

Best regards,

Michael

Please remember to mark the replies as an answers if they help.
If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected]