Question : Can Domino DNS be different to Windows DNS ?

We have our Domino server routing both SMTP & Internal mail. This server uses a connection document to route mail to external domains via Symantec Hosted Mail Security. The firewall locks down connections so that all mail must come in and go out via Symantec.

The problem is that the server can't resolve the outoing DNS address. Our Internal DNS servers don't host external addresses. If we change the DNS Server in Windows to an external facing DNS server, then it can't resolve any internal addresses causing a raft of other issues.

A solution would be to forward DNS queries on our DNS servers, but our network admins are squashing that idea.

Is there a way that we can have Domino itself refer to a specific DNS Server, and the operating system point to another ?

We have tried entering DNSServer=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx into the INI file, but this isn't working (Even after restarting the router)

Do we need to bounce the server to make this entry work ? Does anyone happen to have another suggestion to make this configuration happen ?

Thanks

Nick

Answer : Can Domino DNS be different to Windows DNS ?

I think it is possible to do it (although I agree with Sysexpert that correct way is to use DNS forwarders  on your Windows servers handling DNS. )

I can think of two two ways of doing it.
1) Lets say you have two NICs on the server. One is enabled, one is disabled. Windows would use DNS settings on the Active NIC. Domino would use DNS on the first (!) NIC which does not have to be active

Open "Network and Dialup Connection" folder, then click on Advanced-Advanced settings. in the Advanced settings window, using "up" and "down" arrow buttons, rearrange connections to put connection (again, it does not have to be enabled) with DNS settings for Domino on top of the list

2) Using \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\TCPIP\PARAMETERS\NAMESERVER  registry keyword.
If presented, Domino will use information specified in this keyword for DNS and would not use DNS settings from Windows.