In a Win7 computer that belongs to a domain, how do I append DNS search list entries?

Solution 1:

I found a way to do this which is probably a workaround and which won't work on a locked-down box where you don't have admin rights. Edit the registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\DNSClient\SearchList

Add to the end of that key any domains you want to add to your search list -- although this key may entirely replace your search list. This list should be comma-separated with no whitespace.

After making the change, you have to renew your DHCP lease as a way of getting the DHCP client to run so you can apply the change:

ipconfig /registerdns

Once you have done this, you'll have the new entries in your DNS search list.

Solution 2:

While I'm not sure how Group Policy will interact with this, you can manually edit the registry value HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\SearchList to contain a comma separated (no spaces!) list of domain name suffixes that get appended to your DNS.

Solution 3:

You can't append to the list provided by DHCP as far as I know.

Instead of setting your DNS to automatic, set it to manual and put in your primary DNS servers. Then you can input as many DNS servers as you want.

You'll probably want to change your suffix behaviour so it looks up the other domains too - this bit is probably more important in terms of helping you avoid typing FQDNs and instead just type hostnames.

Personally, the way I do this, is have my DNS servers setup with forwarders, i.e. they forward requests to other domains to get the answers and I simply put my suffix list in there, but my PC only queries my domain's DNS servers. I don't have to type FQDNs.