Windows NT TCP/IP Network Administration

The Boot File

There is one DNS configuration file that is not built of standard resource records. The boot file defines the name server configuration and tells the name server where to obtain database information. If the server is configured using the DNS Manager, the boot file is not used. However, the Microsoft DNS server can use a boot file for compatibility with other servers. The boot file contains the following types of records:

primary domain-name file-name

Declares the local name server as the primary master server for the domain specified by domain-name. As a primary server, the system loads the name server data base from the local disk file specified by name in the file-name field.

secondary domain-name server-address-list file-name

Makes the local server a secondary master server for the domain identified by domain-name. The server-address-list contains the IP address of at least one other master server for this domain. Multiple addresses can be provided in the list, but at least the primary server’s address should be provided. The local server will try each server in the list until it successfully loads the name server database. The local server transfers the entire domain database and stores all of the data it receives in a local file identified by file-name. After completing the transfer, the local server answers all queries for information about the domain with complete authority.

cache . file-name

The cache command points to the file used to initialize the name server ...