Windows DNS Install Requirements

Microsoft DNS
The first DNS system was Bind (Berkeley Internet Name Domain) and was created back in the 1980’s. It is still very much in use today and Microsoft Windows DNS is fully compatible with Bind. It is possible to run a Microsoft network using Bind or another alterative DNS system, however this is harder to integrate with Active Directory than if you were using Microsoft DNS. This is because Microsoft DNS uses dynamic secure updates when using Active Directory Integrated zones. Clients and Domain Controllers can update their DNS records on the DNS server. Without a dynamic update system like this, the DNS records would need to be updated manually. UNIX based DNS does support dynamic updates however this will not be secure like if you were using Windows DNS.

Requirements
Windows DNS can be installed on any version of Windows Server 2008 or 2012 except for Windows Server 2008 Itanium.

If you install DNS on a server that is also a Domain Controller, this would mean that the DNS server is able to use Active Directory Integrated zones. Using Active Directory Integrated zones means that the DNS server can take advantage of secure dynamic updates. If DNS server is installed on a server that is not a Domain Controller, it cannot use secure dynamic updates or store the zone data in Active Directory.

Windows DNS server also requires the server to have at least one static IP Address. This can be IPv4 or IPv6 or both.

References
“Windows Server 2008 R2 Editions Comparison By Server Role” http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/C/6/FC6006B5-866E-42C1-88F8-9AC4B8BC610D/WS%20Brand%20Pages%20-%20Editions%20Comparison%20Guide.pdf
“Window Server 2012 Products and Editions Comparison” http://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=38809

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