DNS on Windows Server 2003, 3rd Edition

Configuring Aging and Scavenging

Aging and scavenging is disabled by default since its improper use is dangerous. If you set the refresh and no-refresh intervals too low, records that aren’t stale can be inadvertently removed. A global setting controls aging and scavenging for the entire DNS server. It’s located on the Advanced tab of the server properties window, which is shown in Figure 7-7. The Scavenging period setting controls how often the server makes a scavenging pass through all authoritative zones.

Figure 7-7. Enabling aging and scavenging for an entire server

Once aging and scavenging has been enabled on a given server, you must still enable it for a particular zone. From the General tab of a zone’s properties window, click the Aging button to produce a window like the one shown in Figure 7-8. Click Scavenge stale resource records to enable aging and scavenging for this zone. The refresh and no-refresh intervals are set on a per-zone basis.

Figure 7-8. Enabling aging and scavenging for a particular zone

In addition, a DNS server may be configured to apply the zone’s values to all the existing and future zones.