How to Export and Import DNS Zone Print

DNS Export/Import, How to export and import DNS, how to export/import the DNS
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Export DNS zones:
Run REGEDIT and navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\DNS Server\Zones(Right-Click the key ZONES and export to a .reg file).

Alternatively, use command line: regedit /e c:\dns.reg“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\DNS Server”

Now copy *.dns from: %windir%\system32\dns
Note: you can put above regedit /e command to script and run as task to backup schedule time. Skip cache.dns as this contains cached DNS lookups.

Import DNS zones:
To import on Server 2003 or Server 2008, first create a test zone such as testdomain.com. The DNS server needs one zone created, but you can remove it after the import.

Copy the .DNS files into %windir%\system32\dns on the new (target) server.

Next double click on the .reg file you created to load all the zones into the new server’s registry (For Windows 2008: Right click the reg. file and run as Administrator)

Now, restart the DNS Server service and open the DNS manager. You are done.