General Information
If you attempt to “Diagnose” your network connection and a dialog box complains that the “DNS resolver failed to flush the cache,” this service is the reason.
Only in extreme situations should you disable this service as caching DNS lookups reduces network traffic and makes internet surfing performance faster.
Windows 8
Default Description
The DNS Client service (dnscache) caches Domain Name System (DNS) names and registers the full computer name for this computer. If the service is stopped, DNS names will continue to be resolved. However, the results of DNS name queries will not be cached and the computer’s name will not be registered. If the service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Additional Information
None at this time.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 |
|---|---|
| Windows 8 x86 | Automatic (Trigger Start, Started) |
| Windows 8 x64 | Automatic (Trigger Start, Started) |
| Windows 8 Pro x86 | Automatic (Trigger Start, Started) |
| Windows 8 Pro x64 | Automatic (Trigger Start, Started) |
| Windows 8 Enterprise x86 | Automatic (Trigger Start, Started) |
| Windows 8 Enterprise x64 | Automatic (Trigger Start, Started) |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): Dnscache
Display Name: DNS Client
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k NetworkService
Log On As
Account: Network Service
Dependencies
Note: No dependencies are listed for any service in the WDP build I used to draft this information.
Windows 7
Default Description
The DNS Client service (dnscache) caches Domain Name System (DNS) names and registers the full computer name for this computer. If the service is stopped, DNS names will continue to be resolved. However, the results of DNS name queries will not be cached and the computer’s name will not be registered. If the service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Additional Information
None at this time.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 7 Starter | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 7 Home Basic | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 7 Home Premium | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 7 Professional | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 7 Ultimate | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Windows 7 Enterprise | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): Dnscache
Display Name: DNS Client
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k NetworkService
Log On As
Account: Network Service
Dependencies
What service DNS Client needs to function properly:
- NetIO Legacy TDI Support Driver (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
- TCP/IP Protocol Driver (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
-
Network Store Interface Service(S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
- NSI proxy service driver (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
What other service require DNS Client to function properly:
- None (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
Windows Vista
Default Description
The DNS Client service (dnscache) caches Domain Name System (DNS) names and registers the full computer name for this computer. If the service is stopped, DNS names will continue to be resolved. However, the results of DNS name queries will not be cached and the computer’s name will not be registered. If the service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Additional Information
If you attempt to “repair” your network connection and a dialog box complains that the “DNS resolver failed to flush the cache,” this service is the reason.
Only in extreme situations should you disable this service as caching DNS lookups reduces network traffic and makes internet surfing performance faster.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 | SP2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vista Home Basic | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Vista Home Premium | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Vista Business | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Vista Ultimate | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| Vista Enterprise | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): Dnscache
Display Name: DNS Client
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe -k NetworkService
Log On As
Account: Network Service
Dependencies
What service DNS Client needs to function properly:
- NetIO Legacy TDI Support Driver (HB, HP, B, U)
- TCP/IP Protocol Driver (HB, HP, B, U)
What other service require DNS Client to function properly:
- None (HB, HP, B, U)
Windows XP Pro x64
Default Description
Resolves and caches Domain Name System (DNS) names for this computer. If this service is stopped, this computer will not be able to resolve DNS names and locate Active Directory domain controllers. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Additional Information
This service is not required for DNS lookups, but if it makes you happy to have it running, you may. If you attempt to “repair” your network connection and a dialog box complains that the “DNS resolver failed to flush the cache,” this service is the reason. It is also needed if using IPSEC Service.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 | SP2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| XP Pro x64 | ? | ? | Automatic |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): DNScache
Display Name: DNS Client
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe -k NetworkService
Log On As
Account: NT AUTHORITY\LocalService
Dependencies
What service DNS Client needs to function properly:
- TCP/IP Protocol Driver
- IPSEC driver
What other service require DNS Client to function properly:
- None
Windows XP
Default Description
Resolves and caches Domain Name System (DNS) names for this computer. If this service is stopped, this computer will not be able to resolve DNS names and locate Active Directory domain controllers. If this service is disabled, any services that explicitly depend on it will fail to start.
Additional Information
This service is not required for DNS lookups, but if it makes you happy to have it running, you may. If you attempt to “repair” your network connection and a dialog box complains that the “DNS resolver failed to flush the cache,” this service is the reason. It is also needed if using IPSEC Services.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 | SP2 | SP3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XP Home | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| XP MCE 2005 | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| XP Pro | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
| XP Tablet PC 2005 | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) | Automatic (Started) |
Service Names
SP3: Service Name (registry): Dnscache
Display Name: DNS Client
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe -k NetworkService
Log On As
Account: NT AUTHORITY\LocalService
SP3: Account: NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService
Dependencies
What service DNS Client needs to function properly:
- TCP/IP Protocol Driver (H, M, P, T)
- IPSEC driver (H, M, P, T)
What other service require DNS Client to function properly:
- None (H, M, P, T)