You can store Domain Name System (DNS) zones in the domain or application directory partitions of Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS). An application directory partition is a data structure in AD DS that distinguishes data for different replication purposes. When you store a DNS zone in an application directory partition, you can control the zone replication scope by controlling the replication scope of the application directory partition. For a zone to be stored in the specified application directory partition, the DNS server hosting the zone must be enlisted in the specified application directory partition. By default, each AD DS-integrated DNS server maintains enlistments for itself in the appropriate DomainDnsZones and ForestDnsZones application directory partitions.

Task Reference

Read about AD DS integration.

Understanding Active Directory Domain Services Integration

Read about zone replication.

Understanding DNS Zone Replication in Active Directory Domain Services

Create an application directory partition.

Create a DNS Application Directory Partition

Enlist additional domain controllers in the application directory partition.

Enlist a DNS Server in a DNS Application Directory Partition

Configure the replication scope of the zones to the scope of the application directory partition.

Change the Zone Replication Scope