DNS scavenging is a Windows DNS Server feature that removes expired (stale) resource records based on their timestamps. Here are the key points to know before you rely on it.
- Scavenging is not enabled by default. You have to turn it on.
- It only removes dynamically updated records that have reached their timestamp age.
- It will not remove static records, the ones you create by hand, unless you run
dnscmd /AgeAllRecords. That command stamps those records with a timestamp, which makes them eligible for scavenging, so use it with care.
Viewing a Record’s Timestamp
- Windows Server 2003: in the DNS console, open the View menu and select Advanced. Then open a record’s properties to see its timestamp.
- Windows Server 2008 and newer: the timestamp appears as its own column in the DNS console.