Recipe 13.4 Converting a Zone to an AD-Integrated Zone

13.4.1 Problem

You want to convert a primary zone to an AD-integrated zone. This causes the contents of the zone to be stored and replicated in Active Directory instead of in a text file.

13.4.2 Solution

13.4.2.1 Using a graphical user interface

Open the DNS Management snap-in.
Right-click on DNS in the left pane and select Connect to DNS Server.
Enter the server you want to connect to and click Enter.
If you want to convert a forward zone, expand the Forward Lookup Zone folder. If you want to convert a reverse zone, expand the Reverse Lookup Zone folder.
Click on the zone you want to convert, then right-click it and select Properties.
Beside Type, click the Change button.
Check the box beside Store the zone in Active Directory.
Click OK twice.

13.4.2.2 Using a command-line interface

> dnscmd <ServerName> /zoneresettype <ZoneName> /DsPrimary

13.4.2.3 Using VBScript

' This code converts a zone to AD-integrated.
' ------ SCRIPT CONFIGURATION ------
strZone   = "<ZoneName>"    ' e.g. rallencorp.com
strServer = "<ServerName>"  ' e.g. dc1.rallencorp.com
' ------ END CONFIGURATION ---------

set objDNS = GetObject("winMgmts:\\" & strServer & "\root\MicrosoftDNS")
set objDNSServer = objDNS.Get("MicrosoftDNS_Server.Name="".""")
set objDNSZone = objDNS.Get("MicrosoftDNS_Zone.ContainerName=""" & _
                            strZone & """,DnsServerName=""" & _
                            objDNSServer.Name & """,Name=""" & strZone & """")
strNull = objDNSZone.ChangeZoneType(0, True)
objDNSZone.Put_
WScript.Echo "Converted " & strZone & " to AD-Integrated"

13.4.3 Discussion

See Introduction in Chapter 13 and Recipe 13.5 for more on AD-integrated zones.

13.4.4 See Also

MS KB 198437 (How to Convert DNS Primary Server to Active Directory Integrated), MS KB 227844 (Primary and Active Directory Integrated Zones Differences), and MSDN: ChangeZoneType Method of the MicrosoftDNS_Zone Class