Fully Qualified Domain Names, or FQNs, are mapped to IP addresses via the local DNS server's Domain Name Service (DNS). The FQN is requested as a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) from a web client, such as a browser. The local DNS routes the request to the IP address that is indexed for the FQN. Many URLs include "www" as the first three characters in the URL to disguise, or "alias," the true FQN for the hosting web server. A canonical name, or "CNAME," record in the DNS database accomplishes the mapping of the FQN to the alias web address. To add a new web server address record to a local DNS server, create a CNAME record for the new address in the DNS database.
Instructions
Difficulty:
Step 1
Log onto the server with Administrator credentials.
Step 2
Click the Windows "Start" button and then click "Control Panel".
Step 3
Click the "Administrative Tools" icon in the Control Panel interface. The Administrative Tools interface will launch.
Step 4
Click the "DNS" option to launch the "DNS Management Console."
Step 5
Click the "Forward Lookup Zones" folder to expand and view choices. Available web server addresses will list in the dialog box.
Step 6
Right-click on the web server domain name that hosts the website with the address to be added to DNS.
Step 7
Click the "Alias" option. A new window will launch into the "Alias (CNAME)" dialog box.
Step 8
Type the new web server address into the input box labeled "Alias Name." Enter the "www" if the address is the homepage (versus a sub-page) of a website.
Step 9
Type the FQN for the new web address into the input box labeled "Fully Qualified Domain Name for Target Host." For example, if adding the web address for Machine1 to the domain.com domain, the FQN would be "Machine1.domain.com". Note: The "Browse" button may be used to navigate for the web address on the network, if desired, instead of typing the address into the input box.
Step 10
Click the "OK" button. The new CNAME is created in the DNS database.