Windows DNS server for local networks and developer projects

DNS Server Sentinel

Download a DNS server for Windows with a desktop Admin UI, authoritative local zones, optional forwarding, cache, protections, and a portable mode for project-specific environments.

Choose edition Read documentation
Modes
Service + Portable
Protocol
UDP + TCP DNS
DNS Server Sentinel Admin interface showing zones, records, service controls, and portable mode.

What it does

Built for practical DNS control

Authoritative zones

Create zones, records, SOA and NS metadata, wildcard entries, and reverse DNS zones from the Admin UI.

Forwarding and cache

Forward unknown names to upstream DNS servers and cache positive and negative responses to reduce latency.

Portable or service

Run as a Windows Service for machines, or launch portable mode with a project-local configuration file.

DNS protocol coverage

UDP, TCP, EDNS0, truncation handling, CNAME chaining, additional and authority sections, and common DNS record types.

Protections

Rate limiting, query size limits, TCP client limits, recursion allowlist, and ignored domains that silently drop queries.

Admin experience

Manage records, forwarding, protections, logs, stats, portable launch commands, service install/start/stop, and config files.

Recommended guides

Learn the common DNS workflows

Local DNS Server on Windows When and how to run a local DNS server for private names and development records. Portable DNS Server for Windows Use project-local DNS configuration without installing a Windows Service. DNS Server for Developers Use local domains, wildcard records, and realistic DNS responses in development.

Distribution

Download DNS Server for Windows

DNS Server Sentinel is distributed as Windows x64 ZIP packages. Choose Service when you want a Windows DNS server running in the background, or Portable when you want a project-local DNS server without installation.

Service edition Windows x64 ZIP

Download this edition to run DNS Server Sentinel as a Windows DNS Service with an Admin UI for install, uninstall, start, and stop actions.

Download Service

Downloads: -

Portable edition Windows x64 ZIP

Download this edition to run a portable DNS server for Windows with create config, choose config, launch portable, and portable command usage.

Download Portable

Downloads: -

Operating modes

Choose the workflow that fits

Windows Service

Download the Service edition when the DNS server should run in the background and start with Windows.

  • Uses the system config in ProgramData.
  • Best for a stable LAN or workstation DNS server.
  • Admin can install, uninstall, start, and stop it.

Portable

Download the Portable edition to launch a DNS server directly with a selected JSON config file, without installing a Windows Service.

  • Uses project-local configuration if selected.
  • Best for development and demos.
  • Logs are optional and can be disabled.

Need setup details?

The documentation area includes installation, records, zones, forwarding, protections, portable mode, and troubleshooting.

Open documentation Browse guides

Contact

Get in touch

Send a message for licensing, support, integration questions, or general product information.

Email destination Messages are sent to info@dnsserversentinel.com.