It all started with Host records. In the beginning there were just flat text files with a list of
servers and corresponding IP addresses. When that got cumbersome and a
pain to update, a proper database called DNS (Domain Name System) was invented by Paul Mockapetris in
1983.
Since then the DNS types of records have grown, here is list:
Type of Record
What it does
A (Host)
Classic resource record. Maps hostname to IP
PTR
Maps IP to hostname (Reverse of A (Host)
Found in Reverse Lookup Zone
CName
Canonical name, in plain English an alias.
NS
Identifies DNS name servers. Important for forwarders
MX
Mail servers, particularly for other domains. MX records required to deliver internet email.
_SRV and _MSDCS
Required for Active Directory.
Whole family of underscore service records, for example, gc = global catalog.
dc = domain controller.
SOA
Make a point of finding the Start of Authority (SOA) tab at the DNS Server.
Custom
/ Special
It is possible to create more records in the DNS manager. However I
would only do this in extreme circumstance, e.g. Following a TechNet
article.
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Without resource records DNS could not resolve queries. The mission of a DNS Query is to locate a server that is Authoritative for a particular domain. The easy part is for the Authoritative server
to check the name in the query against its resource records.
Take the time to investigate DNS Resource Records. Understand which are
created automatically, for example _SRV records, and which you need to create
yourself, for example MX records for Exchange.
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