How to make Alternate DNS server.

Hi,
I have a sever running windows 2003 with primary DNS server on test.local domain. i want to make Alternate DNS server in another computer please guide me that how can i do it?

2- should i configure it as a member server 1st and then start configration?

3-Why me make alternate DNS server? if our primary DNS server will crash then out Alternate DNS server will take the controll?

i shall be thankfull for the reply
mypass

The best way is to run your own dns server and set forwarders
First of all: to your isp dns servers
And second: to opendns or whatever dns severs you like.
There is a possibility to write perl/python/shell script to check your activity with your ISP dns and if its down then to reconfigure your dns server with the alternative dns severs. Put all this into cron job script and it will work just fine.

Hi,

Try using netsh command "add dns"

netsh interface ip>add dns

Usage: add dns [name=]<string> [addr=]<IP address> [[index=]<integer>]

Parameters:

Tag Value
name - The name of the interface where DNS servers are added.
addr - The IP address for the DNS server you are adding.
index - Specifies the index (preference) for the specified
DNS server address.

Remarks: Adds a new DNS server IP address to the statically-configured list.

By default, the DNS server is added to the end of the list. If an
index is specified, the DNS server will be placed in that position
in the list, with other servers being moved down to make room.
If DNS servers were previously obtained through DHCP, the new
address will replace the old list.

Hey!
Adding a secondary authoritative DNS server is designed for cases where all of your registrar name-servers are down. It's a way to eliminate single point of failure and rely on at least two totally different DNS companies.

http://www.softwareprojects.com/reso...rver-1608.html

Hello , I Got the Answer for your third question Here it is DNS network is used to translate the userfriendly name on i.e. the addresses of websites to their ip addresses.They mainly work outside our local are network They stand for Domain name system. Actually two DNS systems are used to ensure that if one of your DNS server is down then you can connect to internet using the other DNS server.

well i was asking about how to configure Alternate dns server but the help was not about to my question. well i try my level best and not my alternate internal DNS is working.Steps which i took are

1-Install windows 2003 server & make it as member server.
2-Giave static IP address to the system as well assign alternate ip address.
3-Install DNS.
4-Right click on the DNS icon on the console & choose the computer.
5-all things were records were transfer from my Preferred DNS server.

Well these were the steps let me now that to resolving my external queries in forwarders i shall give my ISP IP.In this case i give the IP in both Preferred & Alternate DNS or only in Preferred DNS.

Al last please guide me that how can i take backup of DNS server ?

thanks in advance.