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Migrating the Windows DNS Service

Steps to "move" a DNS service from one Windows server to another.

1 min read

To “move” a DNS service from one Windows server to another (e.g. from Windows Server 2003 to 2012), perform the following steps.

  1. Install the DNS service on the target server.
  2. Configure the DNS service on the target server (forwarders, etc.).
  3. Export the following registry key on the source server: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DNS Server\Zones
  4. Stop the DNS service on the source and target servers.
  5. Copy the DNS files from the source server (directory <C:\Windows\system32\dns\>) to the target server.
  6. Import the registry key exported in step 3 on the target server.
  7. Start the DNS service.
  8. The zones should show up in the DNS MMC after 20-30 seconds.

Note: after the migration, you may have to “inform” all devices that the DNS zones now live on a different server. (Especially critical for public DNS servers!)