fix: port Windows VPN DNS settling fix to master

cmd/cli/dns_intercept_darwin.go

@@ -1407,7 +1407,7 @@ func (p *prog) scheduleDelayedRechecks() {
 			ctx := ctrld.LoggerCtx(context.Background(), p.logger.Load())
 			ctrld.InitializeOsResolver(ctx, true)
 			if p.vpnDNS != nil {
-				p.vpnDNS.Refresh(ctx)
+				p.vpnDNS.Refresh(ctx, true)
 			}
 		})
 	}

cmd/cli/dns_intercept_windows.go

@@ -1623,7 +1623,7 @@ func (p *prog) scheduleDelayedRechecks() {
 			ctx := ctrld.LoggerCtx(context.Background(), p.logger.Load())
 			ctrld.InitializeOsResolver(ctx, true)
 			if p.vpnDNS != nil {
-				p.vpnDNS.Refresh(ctx)
+				p.vpnDNS.Refresh(ctx, true)
 			}
 
 			// NRPT watchdog: some VPN software clears NRPT policy rules on

cmd/cli/dns_proxy.go

@@ -639,13 +639,14 @@ func (p *prog) proxy(ctx context.Context, req *proxyRequest) *proxyResponse {
 		if vpnServers := p.vpnDNS.UpstreamForDomain(domain); len(vpnServers) > 0 {
 			ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(), "VPN DNS route matched for domain %s, using servers: %v", domain, vpnServers)
 
-			// Try each VPN DNS server
+			var gotTransportFailure bool
 			for _, server := range vpnServers {
 				upstreamConfig := p.vpnDNS.upstreamConfigFor(server)
 				ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(), "Querying VPN DNS server: %s", server)
 
 				answer := p.queryUpstream(ctx, req, "vpn-dns", upstreamConfig)
 				if answer != nil {
+					p.vpnDNS.VPNDNSReachable()
 					ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(), "VPN DNS query successful")
 
 					// Update cache if enabled
@@ -654,15 +655,87 @@ func (p *prog) proxy(ctx context.Context, req *proxyRequest) *proxyResponse {
 					}
 
 					return &proxyResponse{answer: answer, cached: false}
-				} else {
-					ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(), "VPN DNS server %s failed", server)
 				}
+				gotTransportFailure = true
+				ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(), "VPN DNS server %s failed", server)
+			}
+
+			// Explicit VPN DNS routes are authoritative for their suffix. If all
+			// routed servers fail at the transport layer while Windows is serving
+			// retained VPN DNS state, fail closed instead of leaking VPN/internal
+			// names to normal upstreams.
+			if gotTransportFailure && p.vpnDNS.ShouldFailClosedAfterVPNDNSTransportFailure(domain, vpnServers) {
+				ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(),
+					"All VPN DNS servers had transport failures for %s; returning SERVFAIL while retained VPN DNS state is active", domain)
+				answer := new(dns.Msg)
+				answer.SetRcode(req.msg, dns.RcodeServerFailure)
+				return &proxyResponse{answer: answer, cached: false}
 			}
 
 			ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(), "All VPN DNS servers failed, falling back to normal upstreams")
 		}
 	}
 
+	// Domain-less VPN DNS fallback: when a query is going to upstream.os via a
+	// split-rule (matched policy) and we have VPN DNS servers with no associated
+	// domains, try those servers for this query. This handles cases like F5 VPN
+	// where the VPN doesn't advertise DNS search domains but its DNS servers
+	// know the internal zones referenced by split-rules (e.g., *.provisur.local).
+	// These servers are NOT used for general OS resolver queries to avoid
+	// polluting captive portal / DHCP flows.
+	if dnsIntercept && p.vpnDNS != nil && req.ufr.matched &&
+		len(upstreams) > 0 && upstreams[0] == upstreamOS &&
+		len(req.msg.Question) > 0 {
+		if dlServers := p.vpnDNS.DomainlessServers(); len(dlServers) > 0 {
+			domain := req.msg.Question[0].Name
+			ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(),
+				"Split-rule query %s going to upstream.os, trying %d domain-less VPN DNS servers first: %v",
+				domain, len(dlServers), dlServers)
+
+			var gotDNSAnswer bool
+			var gotTransportFailure bool
+			for _, server := range dlServers {
+				upstreamConfig := p.vpnDNS.upstreamConfigFor(server)
+				ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(), "Querying domain-less VPN DNS server: %s", server)
+
+				answer := p.queryUpstream(ctx, req, "vpn-dns", upstreamConfig)
+				if answer != nil {
+					gotDNSAnswer = true
+					p.vpnDNS.VPNDNSReachable()
+				}
+				if answer != nil && answer.Rcode == dns.RcodeSuccess {
+					ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(),
+						"Domain-less VPN DNS server %s answered %s successfully", server, domain)
+					return &proxyResponse{answer: answer, cached: false}
+				}
+				if answer != nil {
+					ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(),
+						"Domain-less VPN DNS server %s returned %s for %s, trying next",
+						server, dns.RcodeToString[answer.Rcode], domain)
+				} else {
+					gotTransportFailure = true
+					ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(), "Domain-less VPN DNS server %s failed for %s", server, domain)
+				}
+			}
+
+			// If every domainless VPN DNS attempt failed before receiving a DNS
+			// packet while Windows is serving retained VPN DNS state, fail closed
+			// instead of asking LAN/public DNS about internal split-rule names and
+			// caching false negatives. Reachable negative DNS responses still fall
+			// through to the old OS fallback behavior below.
+			if !gotDNSAnswer && gotTransportFailure && p.vpnDNS.ShouldFailClosedAfterVPNDNSTransportFailure(domain, dlServers) {
+				ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(),
+					"All domain-less VPN DNS servers had transport failures for %s; returning SERVFAIL while retained VPN DNS state is active", domain)
+				answer := new(dns.Msg)
+				answer.SetRcode(req.msg, dns.RcodeServerFailure)
+				return &proxyResponse{answer: answer, cached: false}
+			}
+
+			ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(),
+				"All domain-less VPN DNS servers failed for %s, falling back to OS resolver", domain)
+		}
+	}
+
 	ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(), "No cache hit, trying upstreams")
 	if res := p.tryUpstreams(ctx, req, upstreams, upstreamConfigs); res != nil {
 		ctrld.Log(ctx, p.Debug(), "Upstream query successful")
@@ -1662,7 +1735,7 @@ func (p *prog) monitorNetworkChanges(ctx context.Context) error {
 			// even though the physical interface didn't change. Runs after tunnel checks
 			// so the pf anchor rebuild includes current VPN DNS exemptions.
 			if dnsIntercept && p.vpnDNS != nil {
-				p.vpnDNS.Refresh(ctx)
+				p.vpnDNS.Refresh(ctx, true)
 			}
 			return
 		}
@@ -1749,7 +1822,7 @@ func (p *prog) monitorNetworkChanges(ctx context.Context) error {
 			// Refresh VPN DNS routes — runs after tunnel checks so the anchor
 			// rebuild includes current VPN DNS exemptions.
 			if p.vpnDNS != nil {
-				p.vpnDNS.Refresh(ctrld.LoggerCtx(ctx, p.logger.Load()))
+				p.vpnDNS.Refresh(ctrld.LoggerCtx(ctx, p.logger.Load()), true)
 			}
 			// Schedule delayed re-checks to catch async VPN teardown changes.
 			p.scheduleDelayedRechecks()
@@ -2077,7 +2150,7 @@ func (p *prog) completeRecovery(reason RecoveryReason, recovered string) error {
 		// This also re-exempts VPN DNS servers (which may have changed) and
 		// removes any DHCP exemptions that were added during recovery.
 		if p.vpnDNS != nil {
-			p.vpnDNS.Refresh(ctrld.LoggerCtx(context.Background(), p.logger.Load()))
+			p.vpnDNS.Refresh(ctrld.LoggerCtx(context.Background(), p.logger.Load()), true)
 		}
 
 		// Reinitialize OS resolver for the recovered state.

cmd/cli/vpn_dns.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package cli
 import (
 	"context"
 	"net"
+	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"sync/atomic"
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/Control-D-Inc/ctrld"
 )
 
+var vpnDNSSettlingEnabled = runtime.GOOS == "windows"
+
 // vpnDNSExemption represents a VPN DNS server that needs pf/WFP exemption,
 // including the interface it was discovered on. The interface is used on macOS
 // to create interface-scoped pf exemptions that allow the VPN's local DNS
@@ -39,6 +42,16 @@ type vpnDNSManager struct {
 	// Map of domain suffix → DNS servers for fast lookup
 	routes map[string][]string
 	logger *atomic.Pointer[ctrld.Logger]
+	// DNS servers from VPN interfaces that have no domain/suffix config.
+	// These are NOT added to the global OS resolver. They're only used
+	// as additional nameservers for queries that match split-DNS rules
+	// (from ctrld config, AD domain, or VPN suffix config).
+	domainlessServers []string
+	// retainedAfterEmptyDiscovery means Windows reported an empty VPN DNS
+	// snapshot once while previous VPN DNS state existed. We keep that last-known
+	// state for one guarded refresh cycle because Windows can briefly report an
+	// intermediate empty adapter/DNS state after sleep/wake or reconnect.
+	retainedAfterEmptyDiscovery bool
 	// Called when VPN DNS server list changes, to update intercept exemptions.
 	onServersChanged vpnDNSExemptFunc
 }
@@ -56,8 +69,9 @@ func newVPNDNSManager(logger *atomic.Pointer[ctrld.Logger], exemptFunc vpnDNSExe
 
 // Refresh re-discovers VPN DNS configs from the OS.
 // Called on network change events.
-func (m *vpnDNSManager) Refresh(ctx context.Context) {
+func (m *vpnDNSManager) Refresh(ctx context.Context, guardAgainstNoNameservers ...bool) {
 	logger := ctrld.LoggerFromCtx(ctx)
+	guardedRefresh := len(guardAgainstNoNameservers) > 0 && guardAgainstNoNameservers[0]
 
 	ctrld.Log(ctx, logger.Debug(), "Refreshing VPN DNS configurations")
 	configs := ctrld.DiscoverVPNDNS(ctx)
@@ -80,6 +94,29 @@ func (m *vpnDNSManager) Refresh(ctx context.Context) {
 	m.mu.Lock()
 	defer m.mu.Unlock()
 
+	if vpnDNSSettlingEnabled && len(configs) == 0 && guardedRefresh && m.hasVPNDNSStateLocked() {
+		if !m.retainedAfterEmptyDiscovery {
+			exemptions := m.currentExemptionsLocked()
+			m.retainedAfterEmptyDiscovery = true
+			ctrld.Log(ctx, logger.Debug(),
+				"VPN DNS discovery empty; retaining last-known VPN DNS state for one guarded refresh (%d domainless servers, %d exemptions)",
+				len(m.domainlessServers), len(exemptions))
+			if m.onServersChanged != nil {
+				if err := m.onServersChanged(exemptions); err != nil {
+					ctrld.Log(ctx, logger.Error().Err(err), "Failed to re-apply retained VPN DNS exemptions")
+				}
+			}
+			return
+		}
+		ctrld.Log(ctx, logger.Debug(),
+			"VPN DNS discovery still empty on next guarded refresh; clearing retained VPN DNS state (%d domainless servers)",
+			len(m.domainlessServers))
+	}
+
+	// Any discovery path that does not return with retained state clears the
+	// settling marker: non-empty discovery replaces old servers immediately, and
+	// an unguarded/second empty discovery clears stale state below.
+	m.retainedAfterEmptyDiscovery = false
 	m.configs = configs
 	m.routes = make(map[string][]string)
 
@@ -122,8 +159,28 @@ func (m *vpnDNSManager) Refresh(ctx context.Context) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	ctrld.Log(ctx, logger.Debug(), "VPN DNS refresh completed: %d configs, %d routes, %d unique exemptions",
+	// Collect domain-less VPN DNS servers. These are NOT added to the global
-		len(m.configs), len(m.routes), len(exemptions))
+	// OS resolver (that would pollute captive portal / DHCP flows). Instead,
+	// they're stored separately and only used for queries that match existing
+	// split-DNS rules (from ctrld config, AD domain, or VPN suffix config).
+	var domainlessServers []string
+	seenDomainless := make(map[string]bool)
+	for _, config := range configs {
+		if len(config.Domains) == 0 && len(config.Servers) > 0 {
+			ctrld.Log(ctx, logger.Debug(), "VPN interface %s has DNS servers but no domains, storing as split-rule fallback: %v",
+				config.InterfaceName, config.Servers)
+			for _, server := range config.Servers {
+				if !seenDomainless[server] {
+					seenDomainless[server] = true
+					domainlessServers = append(domainlessServers, server)
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	m.domainlessServers = domainlessServers
+
+	ctrld.Log(ctx, logger.Debug(), "VPN DNS refresh completed: %d configs, %d routes, %d domainless servers, %d unique exemptions",
+		len(m.configs), len(m.routes), len(m.domainlessServers), len(exemptions))
 
 	// Update intercept rules to permit VPN DNS traffic.
 	// Always call onServersChanged — including when exemptions is empty — so that
@@ -135,6 +192,69 @@ func (m *vpnDNSManager) Refresh(ctx context.Context) {
 	}
 }
 
+func (m *vpnDNSManager) hasVPNDNSStateLocked() bool {
+	return len(m.configs) > 0 || len(m.routes) > 0 || len(m.domainlessServers) > 0
+}
+
+func (m *vpnDNSManager) currentExemptionsLocked() []vpnDNSExemption {
+	type key struct{ server, iface string }
+	seen := make(map[key]bool)
+	var exemptions []vpnDNSExemption
+	for _, config := range m.configs {
+		for _, server := range config.Servers {
+			k := key{server, config.InterfaceName}
+			if seen[k] {
+				continue
+			}
+			seen[k] = true
+			exemptions = append(exemptions, vpnDNSExemption{
+				Server:     server,
+				Interface:  config.InterfaceName,
+				IsExitMode: config.IsExitMode,
+			})
+		}
+	}
+	return exemptions
+}
+
+// ShouldFailClosedAfterVPNDNSTransportFailure reports whether split-rule
+// queries should fail closed instead of falling back to OS/public DNS after
+// every candidate VPN DNS server failed before returning a DNS packet. This is
+// Windows-only and only active while serving retained VPN DNS state from a
+// guarded empty discovery, which is the short window where Windows can report
+// VPN DNS before routes to those servers are usable after wake/reconnect.
+func (m *vpnDNSManager) ShouldFailClosedAfterVPNDNSTransportFailure(domain string, servers []string) bool {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+
+	if !vpnDNSSettlingEnabled || len(servers) == 0 || !m.retainedAfterEmptyDiscovery || !m.hasVPNDNSStateLocked() {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	logger := m.logger.Load()
+	if logger != nil {
+		logger.Debug().Msgf(
+			"VPN DNS transport failed for %s while retained VPN DNS state is active; suppressing OS fallback for this query (servers=%v)",
+			domain, servers)
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// VPNDNSReachable records that a VPN DNS server returned a DNS response. The
+// response may be negative (NXDOMAIN/SERVFAIL); the important signal is that
+// the VPN DNS transport is reachable again.
+func (m *vpnDNSManager) VPNDNSReachable() {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	if m.retainedAfterEmptyDiscovery {
+		logger := m.logger.Load()
+		if logger != nil {
+			logger.Debug().Msg("VPN DNS transport recovered; clearing retained-empty-discovery state")
+		}
+	}
+	m.retainedAfterEmptyDiscovery = false
+}
+
 // UpstreamForDomain checks if the domain matches any VPN search domain.
 // Returns VPN DNS servers if matched, nil otherwise.
 // Uses suffix matching: "foo.provisur.local" matches "provisur.local"
@@ -165,6 +285,15 @@ func (m *vpnDNSManager) UpstreamForDomain(domain string) []string {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// DomainlessServers returns VPN DNS servers that have no associated domains.
+// These should only be used for queries matching split-DNS rules, not for
+// general OS resolver queries (to avoid polluting captive portal / DHCP flows).
+func (m *vpnDNSManager) DomainlessServers() []string {
+	m.mu.RLock()
+	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
+	return append([]string{}, m.domainlessServers...)
+}
+
 // CurrentServers returns the current set of unique VPN DNS server IPs.
 // Used by pf anchor rebuild to include VPN DNS exemptions without a full Refresh().
 func (m *vpnDNSManager) CurrentServers() []string {
@@ -189,24 +318,7 @@ func (m *vpnDNSManager) CurrentServers() []string {
 func (m *vpnDNSManager) CurrentExemptions() []vpnDNSExemption {
 	m.mu.RLock()
 	defer m.mu.RUnlock()
-
+	return m.currentExemptionsLocked()
-	type key struct{ server, iface string }
-	seen := make(map[key]bool)
-	var exemptions []vpnDNSExemption
-	for _, config := range m.configs {
-		for _, server := range config.Servers {
-			k := key{server, config.InterfaceName}
-			if !seen[k] {
-				seen[k] = true
-				exemptions = append(exemptions, vpnDNSExemption{
-					Server:     server,
-					Interface:  config.InterfaceName,
-					IsExitMode: config.IsExitMode,
-				})
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	return exemptions
 }
 
 // Routes returns a copy of the current VPN DNS routes for debugging.

cmd/cli/vpn_dns_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+package cli
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/Control-D-Inc/ctrld"
+)
+
+func withVPNDNSSettlingEnabled(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Helper()
+	old := vpnDNSSettlingEnabled
+	vpnDNSSettlingEnabled = true
+	t.Cleanup(func() { vpnDNSSettlingEnabled = old })
+}
+
+func TestVPNDNSRefreshRetainsStateForOneGuardedEmptyDiscovery(t *testing.T) {
+	withVPNDNSSettlingEnabled(t)
+	var gotExemptions []vpnDNSExemption
+	m := newVPNDNSManager(&mainLog, func(exemptions []vpnDNSExemption) error {
+		gotExemptions = exemptions
+		return nil
+	})
+	m.configs = []ctrld.VPNDNSConfig{{
+		InterfaceName: "Ethernet 6",
+		Servers:       []string{"10.25.37.21", "10.25.37.22"},
+	}}
+	m.domainlessServers = []string{"10.25.37.21", "10.25.37.22"}
+
+	m.Refresh(context.Background(), true)
+
+	if got := m.DomainlessServers(); len(got) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected retained domainless servers, got %v", got)
+	}
+	if len(gotExemptions) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected retained exemptions to be re-applied, got %v", gotExemptions)
+	}
+	if !m.retainedAfterEmptyDiscovery {
+		t.Fatal("expected empty discovery retention to be marked")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestVPNDNSRefreshClearsOnSecondGuardedEmptyDiscovery(t *testing.T) {
+	withVPNDNSSettlingEnabled(t)
+	var gotExemptions []vpnDNSExemption
+	m := newVPNDNSManager(&mainLog, func(exemptions []vpnDNSExemption) error {
+		gotExemptions = exemptions
+		return nil
+	})
+	m.configs = []ctrld.VPNDNSConfig{{
+		InterfaceName: "Ethernet 6",
+		Servers:       []string{"10.25.37.21"},
+	}}
+	m.domainlessServers = []string{"10.25.37.21"}
+	m.retainedAfterEmptyDiscovery = true
+
+	m.Refresh(context.Background(), true)
+
+	if got := m.DomainlessServers(); len(got) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected domainless servers to be cleared on second empty discovery, got %v", got)
+	}
+	if len(gotExemptions) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected empty exemptions after clearing stale state, got %v", gotExemptions)
+	}
+	if m.retainedAfterEmptyDiscovery {
+		t.Fatal("expected retained empty-discovery marker to be cleared with stale state")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestVPNDNSTransportFailureSuppressesFallbackOnlyWhileRetainingState(t *testing.T) {
+	withVPNDNSSettlingEnabled(t)
+	m := newVPNDNSManager(&mainLog, nil)
+	m.domainlessServers = []string{"10.25.37.21"}
+
+	if m.ShouldFailClosedAfterVPNDNSTransportFailure("splunk.aws.arena.net.", []string{"10.25.37.21"}) {
+		t.Fatal("did not expect transport failure to suppress OS fallback outside retained empty-discovery state")
+	}
+
+	m.retainedAfterEmptyDiscovery = true
+	if !m.ShouldFailClosedAfterVPNDNSTransportFailure("splunk.aws.arena.net.", []string{"10.25.37.21"}) {
+		t.Fatal("expected transport failure to suppress OS fallback while retained state is active")
+	}
+
+	m.VPNDNSReachable()
+	if m.retainedAfterEmptyDiscovery {
+		t.Fatal("expected reachable DNS response to clear retained empty-discovery state")
+	}
+}

nameservers_windows.go

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"net"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 	"unsafe"
@@ -37,6 +38,30 @@ const (
 	DS_IP_REQUIRED                = 0x00000200
 	DS_IS_DNS_NAME                = 0x00020000
 	DS_RETURN_DNS_NAME            = 0x40000000
+
+	// AD DC retry constants.
+	dcRetryInitialDelay = 1 * time.Second
+	dcRetryMaxDelay     = 30 * time.Second
+	dcRetryMaxAttempts  = 10
+
+	// DsGetDcName error codes.
+	errNoSuchDomain   uintptr = 1355
+	errNoLogonServers uintptr = 1311
+	errDCNotFound     uintptr = 1004
+	errRPCUnavailable uintptr = 1722
+	errConnReset      uintptr = 10054
+	errNetUnreachable uintptr = 1231
+)
+
+var (
+	dcRetryMu     sync.Mutex
+	dcRetryCancel context.CancelFunc
+	dcRetryDomain string
+	dcRetryID     uint64
+
+	// Lazy-loaded netapi32 for DsGetDcNameW calls.
+	netapi32DLL  = windows.NewLazySystemDLL("netapi32.dll")
+	dsGetDcNameW = netapi32DLL.NewProc("DsGetDcNameW")
 )
 
 type DomainControllerInfo struct {
@@ -124,15 +149,16 @@ func getDNSServers(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
 	var dcServers []string
 	var adDomain string
 	isDomain := checkDomainJoined(ctx)
+	if !isDomain {
+		cancelDCRetry()
+	}
 	if isDomain {
 		domainName, err := system.GetActiveDirectoryDomain()
 		if err != nil {
 			logger.Debug().Msgf("Failed to get local AD domain: %v", err)
 		} else {
 			adDomain = domainName
-			// Load netapi32.dll
+			cancelDCRetryForOtherDomain(domainName)
-			netapi32 := windows.NewLazySystemDLL("netapi32.dll")
-			dsDcName := netapi32.NewProc("DsGetDcNameW")
 
 			var info *DomainControllerInfo
 			flags := uint32(DS_RETURN_DNS_NAME | DS_IP_REQUIRED | DS_IS_DNS_NAME)
@@ -144,7 +170,7 @@ func getDNSServers(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
 				logger.Debug().Msgf("Attempting to get DC for domain: %s with flags: 0x%x", domainName, flags)
 
 				// Call DsGetDcNameW with domain name
-				ret, _, err := dsDcName.Call(
+				ret, _, err := dsGetDcNameW.Call(
 					0,                                    // ComputerName - can be NULL
 					uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(domainUTF16)), // DomainName
 					0,                                    // DomainGuid - not needed
@@ -154,17 +180,22 @@ func getDNSServers(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
 
 				if ret != 0 {
 					switch ret {
-					case 1355: // ERROR_NO_SUCH_DOMAIN
+					case errNoSuchDomain:
 						logger.Debug().Msgf("Domain not found: %s (%d)", domainName, ret)
-					case 1311: // ERROR_NO_LOGON_SERVERS
+					case errNoLogonServers:
 						logger.Debug().Msgf("No logon servers available for domain: %s (%d)", domainName, ret)
-					case 1004: // ERROR_DC_NOT_FOUND
+					case errDCNotFound:
 						logger.Debug().Msgf("Domain controller not found for domain: %s (%d)", domainName, ret)
-					case 1722: // RPC_S_SERVER_UNAVAILABLE
+					case errRPCUnavailable:
 						logger.Debug().Msgf("RPC server unavailable for domain: %s (%d)", domainName, ret)
 					default:
 						logger.Debug().Msgf("Failed to get domain controller info for domain %s: %d, %v", domainName, ret, err)
 					}
+					// Start background retry for transient DC errors.
+					if isTransientDCError(ret) {
+						logger.Info().Msgf("AD DC detection failed with retryable error %d for %s, ensuring background retry", ret, domainName)
+						startDCRetry(domainName)
+					}
 				} else if info != nil {
 					defer windows.NetApiBufferFree((*byte)(unsafe.Pointer(info)))
 
@@ -177,6 +208,7 @@ func getDNSServers(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
 						logger.Debug().Msgf("Found domain controller address: %s", dcAddr)
 						if ip := net.ParseIP(dcAddr); ip != nil {
 							dcServers = append(dcServers, ip.String())
+							cancelDCRetry()
 							logger.Debug().Msgf("Added domain controller DNS servers: %v", dcServers)
 						}
 					} else {
@@ -336,6 +368,173 @@ func checkDomainJoined(ctx context.Context) bool {
 	return isDomain
 }
 
+// isTransientDCError returns true if the DsGetDcName error code indicates
+// a transient failure that may succeed on retry. ERROR_NO_SUCH_DOMAIN is
+// retryable here because we only call this path after Windows already reported
+// the machine is domain joined and returned a local AD domain name; during VPN
+// DNS churn, DC locator can temporarily fail to resolve that known domain.
+func isTransientDCError(code uintptr) bool {
+	switch code {
+	case errNoSuchDomain, errConnReset, errRPCUnavailable, errNoLogonServers, errDCNotFound, errNetUnreachable:
+		return true
+	default:
+		return false
+	}
+}
+
+// cancelDCRetry cancels any in-flight DC retry goroutine.
+func cancelDCRetry() {
+	dcRetryMu.Lock()
+	defer dcRetryMu.Unlock()
+	if dcRetryCancel != nil {
+		dcRetryCancel()
+		dcRetryCancel = nil
+		dcRetryDomain = ""
+		dcRetryID = 0
+	}
+}
+
+// cancelDCRetryForOtherDomain keeps an existing retry alive during noisy
+// network-change refreshes, but stops it if Windows reports a different AD
+// domain. This avoids the start/cancel storm seen when DsGetDcName briefly
+// returns ERROR_NO_SUCH_DOMAIN while VPN DNS is still settling.
+func cancelDCRetryForOtherDomain(domainName string) {
+	dcRetryMu.Lock()
+	defer dcRetryMu.Unlock()
+	if dcRetryCancel == nil || dcRetryDomain == "" || strings.EqualFold(dcRetryDomain, domainName) {
+		return
+	}
+	dcRetryCancel()
+	dcRetryCancel = nil
+	dcRetryDomain = ""
+	dcRetryID = 0
+}
+
+// startDCRetry spawns a background goroutine that retries DsGetDcName with
+// exponential backoff. On success it appends the DC IP to the OS resolver.
+func startDCRetry(domainName string) {
+	dcRetryMu.Lock()
+	if dcRetryCancel != nil && strings.EqualFold(dcRetryDomain, domainName) {
+		LoggerFromCtx(context.Background()).Debug().Msgf("AD DC retry already running for domain %s", domainName)
+		dcRetryMu.Unlock()
+		return
+	}
+	if dcRetryCancel != nil {
+		dcRetryCancel()
+	}
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	dcRetryID++
+	retryID := dcRetryID
+	dcRetryCancel = cancel
+	dcRetryDomain = domainName
+	dcRetryMu.Unlock()
+
+	go func(retryID uint64) {
+		logger := LoggerFromCtx(context.Background())
+		defer clearDCRetryIfCurrent(domainName, retryID)
+		delay := dcRetryInitialDelay
+
+		for attempt := 1; attempt <= dcRetryMaxAttempts; attempt++ {
+			select {
+			case <-ctx.Done():
+				logger.Debug().Msgf("AD DC retry cancelled for domain %s", domainName)
+				return
+			case <-time.After(delay):
+			}
+
+			logger.Debug().Msgf("AD DC retry attempt %d/%d for domain %s (delay was %v)",
+				attempt, dcRetryMaxAttempts, domainName, delay)
+
+			dcIP, errCode := tryGetDCAddress(domainName)
+			if dcIP != "" {
+				logger.Info().Msgf("AD DC retry succeeded: found DC at %s for domain %s (attempt %d)",
+					dcIP, domainName, attempt)
+				if AppendOsResolverNameservers([]string{dcIP}) {
+					logger.Info().Msgf("Added DC %s to OS resolver nameservers", dcIP)
+				} else {
+					logger.Warn().Msgf("AD DC retry: OS resolver not initialized, DC IP %s was not added", dcIP)
+				}
+				return
+			}
+
+			// Permanent error or unexpected empty result — stop retrying.
+			if errCode != 0 && !isTransientDCError(errCode) {
+				logger.Debug().Msgf("AD DC retry stopping: permanent error %d for domain %s", errCode, domainName)
+				return
+			}
+			if errCode == 0 {
+				// DsGetDcName returned success but no usable address — don't retry.
+				logger.Debug().Msgf("AD DC retry stopping: DsGetDcName returned no address for domain %s", domainName)
+				return
+			}
+
+			// Exponential backoff.
+			delay *= 2
+			if delay > dcRetryMaxDelay {
+				delay = dcRetryMaxDelay
+			}
+		}
+
+		logger.Warn().Msgf("AD DC retry exhausted %d attempts for domain %s", dcRetryMaxAttempts, domainName)
+	}(retryID)
+}
+
+func clearDCRetryIfCurrent(domainName string, retryID uint64) {
+	dcRetryMu.Lock()
+	defer dcRetryMu.Unlock()
+	if dcRetryCancel != nil && dcRetryID == retryID && strings.EqualFold(dcRetryDomain, domainName) {
+		dcRetryCancel = nil
+		dcRetryDomain = ""
+		dcRetryID = 0
+	}
+}
+
+// tryGetDCAddress attempts a single DsGetDcName call and returns the DC IP on success,
+// or empty string and the error code on failure.
+func tryGetDCAddress(domainName string) (string, uintptr) {
+	logger := LoggerFromCtx(context.Background())
+
+	var info *DomainControllerInfo
+	// Use DS_FORCE_REDISCOVERY on retries to bypass the DC locator cache,
+	// which may have cached the initial transient failure.
+	flags := uint32(DS_RETURN_DNS_NAME | DS_IP_REQUIRED | DS_IS_DNS_NAME | DS_FORCE_REDISCOVERY)
+
+	domainUTF16, err := windows.UTF16PtrFromString(domainName)
+	if err != nil {
+		logger.Debug().Msgf("Failed to convert domain name to UTF16: %v", err)
+		return "", 0
+	}
+
+	ret, _, _ := dsGetDcNameW.Call(
+		0,
+		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(domainUTF16)),
+		0,
+		0,
+		uintptr(flags),
+		uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&info)))
+
+	if ret != 0 {
+		logger.Debug().Msgf("DsGetDcName retry failed for %s: error %d", domainName, ret)
+		return "", ret
+	}
+
+	if info == nil {
+		return "", 0
+	}
+	defer windows.NetApiBufferFree((*byte)(unsafe.Pointer(info)))
+
+	if info.DomainControllerAddress == nil {
+		return "", 0
+	}
+
+	dcAddr := windows.UTF16PtrToString(info.DomainControllerAddress)
+	dcAddr = strings.TrimPrefix(dcAddr, "\\\\")
+	if ip := net.ParseIP(dcAddr); ip != nil {
+		return ip.String(), 0
+	}
+	return "", 0
+}
+
 // ValidInterfaces returns a map of valid network interface names as keys with empty struct values.
 // It filters interfaces to include only physical, hardware-based adapters using WMI queries.
 func ValidInterfaces(ctx context.Context) map[string]struct{} {

resolver.go

@@ -139,6 +139,66 @@ func OsResolverNameservers() []string {
 	return nss
 }
 
+// AppendOsResolverNameservers adds additional nameservers to the existing OS resolver
+// without reinitializing it. This is used for late-arriving nameservers such as AD
+// domain controller IPs discovered via background retry.
+// Returns true if nameservers were actually added.
+func AppendOsResolverNameservers(servers []string) bool {
+	if len(servers) == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+	resolverMutex.Lock()
+	defer resolverMutex.Unlock()
+	if or == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// Collect existing nameservers to avoid duplicates.
+	existing := make(map[string]bool)
+	if lan := or.lanServers.Load(); lan != nil {
+		for _, server := range *lan {
+			existing[server] = true
+		}
+	}
+	if pub := or.publicServers.Load(); pub != nil {
+		for _, server := range *pub {
+			existing[server] = true
+		}
+	}
+
+	var added bool
+	for _, server := range servers {
+		// Normalize to host:port format.
+		if _, _, err := net.SplitHostPort(server); err != nil {
+			server = net.JoinHostPort(server, "53")
+		}
+		if existing[server] {
+			continue
+		}
+		existing[server] = true
+		added = true
+
+		ip, _, _ := net.SplitHostPort(server)
+		addr, _ := netip.ParseAddr(ip)
+		if isLanAddr(addr) {
+			var newLan []string
+			if lan := or.lanServers.Load(); lan != nil {
+				newLan = append(newLan, (*lan)...)
+			}
+			newLan = append(newLan, server)
+			or.lanServers.Store(&newLan)
+		} else {
+			var newPub []string
+			if pub := or.publicServers.Load(); pub != nil {
+				newPub = append(newPub, (*pub)...)
+			}
+			newPub = append(newPub, server)
+			or.publicServers.Store(&newPub)
+		}
+	}
+	return added
+}
+
 // initializeOsResolver performs logic for choosing OS resolver nameserver.
 // The logic:
 //