Windows AD DNS Quick Reference Commands

Area Action Command Description
Forward Zones Create forward zone Add-DnsServerPrimaryZone -Name "refol.us" -ZoneFile "refol.us.dns" Creates the primary AD forward zone.
  Validate forward zone Get-DnsServerZone -Name "refol.us" \| Format-List * Shows zone details.
Reverse Zones Create reverse zone Add-DnsServerPrimaryZone -NetworkId "192.168.20.0/24" -ZoneFile "20.168.192.in-addr.arpa.dns" -ZoneType Primary Creates reverse zone for the subnet.
  Delete reverse zone Remove-DnsServerZone -Name "20.168.192.in-addr.arpa" -Force Removes a reverse zone.
  List reverse zones Get-DnsServerZone \| Where-Object { $_.IsReverseLookupZone } Shows all reverse zones.
PTR Records List PTRs Get-DnsServerResourceRecord -ZoneName "20.168.192.in-addr.arpa" -RRType PTR Displays PTR records.
  Add PTR Add-DnsServerResourceRecordPtr -Name "50" -ZoneName "20.168.192.in-addr.arpa" -PtrDomainName "host.refol.us" Adds PTR for 192.168.20.50.
  Remove PTR Remove-DnsServerResourceRecord -ZoneName "20.168.192.in-addr.arpa" -RRType PTR -Name "50" -Force Removes PTR for .50.
Forwarders Add forwarder Add-DnsServerForwarder -IPAddress "8.8.8.8" Adds Google DNS as a forwarder.
  Add forwarder Add-DnsServerForwarder -IPAddress "1.1.1.1" Adds Cloudflare DNS as a forwarder.
  Validate forwarders Get-DnsServerForwarder Lists configured forwarders.
  Test forwarding Resolve-DnsName google.com -Server 127.0.0.1 Confirms DNS resolution via the DC.
  Test port Test-NetConnection -ComputerName 8.8.8.8 -Port 53 Confirms DNS port connectivity.
  Check DNS logs Get-WinEvent -LogName "DNS Server" -MaxEvents 50 \| Format-Table TimeCreated, Id, Message -AutoSize Shows recent DNS server events.
SRV & A Records Validate SRV records Get-DnsServerResourceRecord -ZoneName "refol.us" -RRType "SRV" Ensures AD service records exist.
  Validate DC A record Get-DnsServerResourceRecord -ZoneName "refol.us" -Name "dc01" Confirms the DC hostname resolves.
Testing Forward lookup Resolve-DnsName hostname.refol.us Tests A‑record resolution.
  Reverse lookup Resolve-DnsName 192.168.20.50 Tests PTR resolution.