DNS Error

Hi,

I am trying to configure my server with Active Directory and DNS enabled.
Everything appears to be working, except trying to contact the server using
\\servername, and related takes such as logging onto the domain from other
machines.

Using a prompt from a client, I can acess the machine using the IP address,
but not using \\servername.

Help appreciated! Guess its something simple I missed.

Andy

 

Single-word Names are "netbois names" and are handled by WINS,..or by DNS if
the DNS Suffixes are used.

Try using the FQDN \\servername.mydomain.tld

 

It would probably help if you specified the exact errors you are receiving.
The most common source of AD/DNS errors are;

1. Clients must be configured to exclusively use the server for DNS.

2. The server must be configured to exclusively use itself for DNS.

3. The subdomains - eg. _msdcs - must exist - check the DNS console on the
server. If the subdomains do not exist, try running: 'net stop netlogon'
followed by 'net start netlogon.'

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

FQDN (\\adjserver.johnson.local I presume) doesn't work either.

Error is 'the network path could not be found'.

Thanks,

Andy

 

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. (2) is done. (1) doesn't work; but I have had it
established before without doing this! What happened was I installed VPN,
couldn't get it to work, uninstalled VPN which didn't work, then uninstalled
DNS, reinstaleld DNS - and it now doesn't work

(3) - the subdomains do exist.

When I try to connect, it just say that server can't be found.

Thanks,

Andy

 

Correction....!

(1) does solve the problem, but doing that stops the internet connection
working (which is provided through a separate router-modem). The internet
connection DOES work on the server itself!!

Many thanks!!

 

Very sorry *blushing*...

The internet connection *does* work; but attempts to use MSN Messenger do
not!!

 

I think the ultimate issue is telling the router to direct any traffic for
adjserver to the relevant IP for the server, but I'm not sure how to do
this.

Andy

 

One thing that will help in troubleshooting DNS issues is to bear in mind
that failed DNS queries will be cached. As a result, you can make a
configuration change which actually solves the problem, but clients continue
to get DNS failures because they check their local cache first. You can
clear the cache on the client and/or server without rebooting by running
ipconfig /flushdns. Of course, I have never personally forgotten to do
this.

As to MSN Messenger - dunno - could be a router/firewall issue.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

Impossible to say. I have no information about. If you have any other info
to posts, go ahead, but I am leaving for the day and will be back tomorrow.

Doug's a good guy,..he will take care of you...

--

Phillip Windell [MCP, MVP, CCNA]
www.wandtv.com

 

Ok. Cheers!

Andy

 

Something really isn't working right. It now isn't working again (no
settings have changed since last night!!); don't know if this is
relevant...I can do nsnlookup on clients, and get it showing the
servername.domain and the correct IP address.

Does this suggest an Active Directory problem?

Thanks for all help,

Andy

 

MSN thing was irrelvant...seemed like a general error, sorry.

The ipconfig thing doesn't see to make a difference.

I have now, by changing the DNS on the clients, reached the point at which I
can log on to the domain, but I still cannot access \\servername through
Explorer (though I can still access the machine using the IP Address). Any
suggestions?

Thanks as always,

Andy

 

Hmmm. Now we're back to Phil's original take. It sounds like DNS is
working, but there is a NetBIOS issue. An unlikely but possible explanation
would be creating a different NetBIOS name on the server during AD
installation - this can happen automatically if you have an unusually long
name for the server. Open a command prompt and type:

nbtstat -n ENTER

Is servername listed? If it is not or you get an error, check your Local
Area Connection TCP/IP properties and make sure that NetBIOS over TCP/IP is
enabled on the WINS tab in Advanced properties.

Doug Sherman
MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

It wasn't listed and that option wasn't enabled. I think you may very well
have solved my problem! Thank you so very much for your time and help!!!

As ever,

Andy