To configure a DNS server to use forwarders using the Command Prompt:
1. Open the Command Prompt window with elevated permissions (Run as Administrator).
2. If you want to add the same DNS forwarders used in my previous example, in the Command Prompt window type the following command:
dnscmd <DNS_server_name_or_IP>/ResetForwarders 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4 /timeout 3 /noslave
Some Final Notes:
- Separate the DNS IP addresses by a space.
- You cannot add individual entries one after the other, you must add all forwarders at the same time in one command. But you can add or change existing entries from DNS Manager.
- The /timeout switch specifies the amount of time that your DNS server waits for the forwarder to respond.
- The /slave switch indicates that the DNS server will not attempt to perform its own iterative queries if the forwarder fails to resolve the query.
- The /noslave switch means that the DNS server will use its root hints file if no forwarders are available to resolve the query.