M01 - Unit 6 Configure DNS settings in Azure

Exercise scenario

In this unit, you will configure DNS name resolution for Contoso Ltd. You will create a private DNS zone named contoso.com, link the VNets for registration and resolution, and then create two virtual machines and test the configuration.

Diagram of DNS architecture.

In this exercise, you will:

  • Task 1: Create a private DNS Zone
  • Task 2: Link subnet for auto registration
  • Task 3: Create Virtual Machines to test the configuration
  • Task 4: Verify records are present in the DNS zone

Note: An interactive lab simulation is available that allows you to click through this lab at your own pace. You may find slight differences between the interactive simulation and the hosted lab, but the core concepts and ideas being demonstrated are the same.

Estimated time: 25 minutes

Task 1: Create a private DNS Zone

  1. Go to Azure Portal.

  2. On the Azure home page, in the search bar, enter dns, and then select Private DNS zones.
    ‎Azure Portal home page with dns search.

  3. In Private DNS zones, select + Create.

  4. Use the information in the following table to create the private DNS zone.

Tab Option Value
Basics Resource group ContosoResourceGroup
  Name Contoso.com
Tags No changes required  
Review + create Review your settings and select Create  

  1. Wait until the deployment is complete, and then select Go to resource.

  2. Verify that the zone has been created.

  1. In Contoso.com, under Settings, select Virtual network links.

  2. On Contoso.com Virtual network links, select + Add.
![contoso.com Virtual links with + Add highlighted.](/AZ-700-Designing-and-Implementing-Microsoft-Azure-Networking-Solutions/Instructions/media/add-network-link-dns.png)
  1. Use the information in the following table to add the virtual network link.
Option Value
Link name CoreServicesVnetLink
Subscription No changes required
Virtual Network CoreServicesVnet (ContosoResourceGroup)
Enable auto registration Selected
Review your settings and select OK.  

  1. Select Refresh.

  2. Verify that the CoreServicesVnetLink has been created, and that auto-registration is enabled.

  3. Repeat steps 2 - 5 for the ManufacturingVnet, using the information in the following table:

Option Value
Link name ManufacturingVnetLink
Subscription No changes required
Virtual Network ManufacturingVnet (ContosoResourceGroup)
Enable auto registration Selected
Review your settings and select OK.  

  1. Select Refresh.

  2. Verify that the ManufacturingVnetLink has been created, and that auto-registration is enabled.

  3. Repeat steps 2 - 5 for the ResearchVnet, using the information in the following table:

Option Value
Link name ResearchVnetLink
Subscription No changes required
Virtual Network ResearchVnet (ContosoResourceGroup)
Enable auto registration Selected
Review your settings and select OK.  

  1. Select Refresh.

  2. Verify that the ResearchVnetLink has been created, and that auto-registration is enabled.

Task 3: Create Virtual Machines to test the configuration

In this section, you will create two test VMs to test the Private DNS zone configuration.

  1. On the Azure portal, open the PowerShell session within the Cloud Shell pane.

    Note: If this is the first time opening Cloud Shell, you might be prompted to create a storage account. Select Create storage.

  2. On the toolbar of the Cloud Shell pane, select the Upload/Download files icon, in the drop-down menu, select Upload and upload the following files azuredeploy.json and azuredeploy.parameters.json into the Cloud Shell home directory one by one from the source folder F:\Allfiles\Exercises\M01.

  3. Deploy the following ARM templates to create the VMs needed for this exercise:

    Note: You will be prompted to provide an Admin password.

    $RGName = "ContosoResourceGroup"
   
New-AzResourceGroupDeployment -ResourceGroupName $RGName -TemplateFile azuredeploy.json -TemplateParameterFile azuredeploy.parameters.json

  4. When the deployment is complete, go to the Azure portal home page, and then select Virtual Machines.

  5. Verify that both virtual machines have been created.

Task 4: Verify records are present in the DNS zone

  1. On the Azure Portal home page, select Private DNS zones.

  2. On Private DNS zones, select contoso.com.

  3. Verify that host (A) records are listed for both VMs, as shown:

Contoso.com DNS zone showing auto-registered host A records.

  1. Make a note of the names and IP addresses of the VMs.

Connect to the Test VMs using RDP

  1. On the Azure Portal home page, select Virtual Machines.

  2. Select TestVM1.

  3. On TestVM1, select Connect > RDP and download the RDP file.

    TestVM1 with Connect and RDP highlighted.

  4. Save the RDP file to your desktop.

  5. Follow the same steps for TestVM2

  6. Connect to TestVM1 using the RDP file, and the username TestUser and the password you provided during deployment.

  7. Connect to TestVM2 using the RDP file, and the username TestUser and the password you provided during deployment.

  8. On both VMs, in Choose privacy settings for your device, select Accept.

  9. On both VMs, if prompted, in Networks, select Yes.

  10. On TestVM1, open a command prompt and enter the command ipconfig /all.

  11. Verify that the IP address is the same as the one you noted in the DNS zone.

  12. Enter the command ping TestVM2.contoso.com.

  13. Verify that the FQDN resolves to the IP address that you noted in the Private DNS zone. The ping itself will timeout because of the Windows Firewall that is enabled on the VMs.

  14. Alternatively, you can enter the command nslookup TestVM2.contoso.com and verify that you receive a successful name resolution record for VM2

Congratulations! You have created a private DNS Zone, added a name resolution and auto-registration link, and tested name resolution in your configuration.