The DNS Server service supports aging and scavenging features. These features are provided as a mechanism for performing cleanup and removal of stale resource records, which can accumulate in zone data over time. You can use this procedure to set the default aging and scavenging properties for the zones on a server.

Membership in the Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to complete this procedure. Review details about using the appropriate accounts and group memberships at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=83477.

Setting aging and scavenging properties for the DNS server

To set aging and scavenging properties for the DNS server using the Windows interface

  1. Open DNS Manager.

  2. In the console tree, right-click the applicable DNS server, and then click Set Aging/Scavenging for all zones.

  3. Select the Scavenge stale resource records check box.

  4. Modify other aging and scavenging properties as needed.

Additional considerations

  • To open DNS Manager, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click DNS.

  • Aging and scavenging properties that are configured by this procedure act as server defaults that apply only to Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)–integrated zones. For standard primary zones, you must set the appropriate properties at the applicable zone.

  • When you apply changes for server aging and scavenging settings, DNS Manager prompts you to confirm the changes. You then have the option to apply your changes to new AD DS-integrated zones only. If necessary, you can also apply your changes to existing AD DS-integrated zones.

  • Regardless of whether the Scavenge stale resource records check box is selected as described in step 3, for standard primary zones, this feature is disabled unless it is manually enabled at the applicable zone.

To set aging and scavenging properties for the DNS server using a command line

  1. Open a command prompt.

  2. Type the following command, and then press ENTER:

    dnscmd <ServerName> /Config {/ScavengingInterval <Value>|/DefaultAgingState <Value>|/DefaultNoRefreshInterval <Value>|/DefaultRefreshInterval <Value>}

Parameter Description

dnscmd

The command-line tool for managing DNS servers.

<ServerName>

Required. Specifies the DNS host name of the DNS server. You can also type the IP address of the DNS server. To specify the DNS server on the local computer, you can also type a period (.)

/Config

Required. Configures the specified server.

/ScavengingInterval

Required. Sets the frequency by which the server will perform scavenging for all scavenging-enabled zones.

/DefaultAgingState

Required. Sets the default aging configuration for all zones on the server.

/DefaultNoRefreshInterval

Required. Sets the default no-refresh interval for scavenging-enabled zones.

/DefaultRefreshInterval

Sets the default refresh interval for scavenging-enabled zones.

<Value>

For /ScavengingInterval, type a value in hours. The default is 168 (one week). For /DefaultAgingState, type 1 to enable aging for new zones when they are created. Type 0 to disable aging for new zones. For /DefaultNoRefreshInterval, type a value in hours. The default is 168 (one week). For /DefaultRefreshInterval, type a value in hours. The default is 168 (one week).

To view the complete syntax for this command, at a command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:

dnscmd /Config /help

Additional considerations

  • To open an elevated Command Prompt window, click Start, point to All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

Additional references

  • Set Aging and Scavenging Properties for a Zone
  • Enable Automatic Scavenging of Stale Resource Records