Issue

A Windows server hangs, reboots, becomes unresponsive or network clients disconnect due to Dns.exe consuming a large amount of nonpaged pool memory and file handles.

Solution:

Log on to the server using the local or domain Administrator account, open an elevated command prompt and perform the following steps. 

1. Press the Windows Logo+R, type runas /user:administrator@domain.local cmd where domain.local is replaced by the name of the Active Directory domain or local server name and press Enter. The same task can be accomplished using the Command Prompt and Run as Administrator.

2. Type the Administrator account password when prompted and press Enter. 

3. Type dnscmd.exe /config /socketpoolsize 1000 and press Enter. 

4. Type net stop dns && net start dns and press Enter.