Quick DNS question

[Jason Fischer]

I need to add a host to our Windows 2000 DNS server so that the users
can just type in the name 'portal' in IE and have it resolve to a local
IP address.

Right-now I can get it work if they use the FQDN, but not just the
hostname. Is there something I can do to make this work using just the
hostname?

Thanks.

Jason

 

[Herb Martin]

I need to add a host to our Windows 2000 DNS server so that the users
can just type in the name 'portal' in IE and have it resolve to a local
IP address.

Add the name (e.g., "portal") to the same zone
in which the clients are defined (and set as their
primary DNS suffix).

If you do that, their machines will default to adding
their own suffix and thus get, portal.ownsuffix.com
(or whatever) as the effective name.

Right-now I can get it work if they use the FQDN, but not just the
hostname. Is there something I can do to make this work using just the
hostname?

Perhaps the clients don't have their primary
suffix set in the "System Control" panel.

Having the full name appended is MORE a client
function than the server's job.

 

[Kevin D. Goodknecht Sr. [MVP]]

In

I need to add a host to our Windows 2000 DNS server so
that the users can just type in the name 'portal' in IE
and have it resolve to a local IP address.

Right-now I can get it work if they use the FQDN, but not
just the hostname. Is there something I can do to make
this work using just the hostname?

This is a complicated problem, you wish users to be able to resolve a
single-label name in DNS, clients will not send a single-label name to DNS
unless it is followed by a trailing "." e.g. "portal."
Otherwise, the DNS client service appends the DNS suffix search list to all
single-label name queries. If your clients have a DNS suffix search list and
you have a zone in DNS for the domain name in the list, you can add a record
named portal to this zone with the IP you need it resolved to. Even then,
the web server must be able to use this single-label name on the web site.
Meaning if the web server uses host headers you wont get the site because
portal is not one of its host headers.

 

[Jeff Cochran]

I need to add a host to our Windows 2000 DNS server so that the users
can just type in the name 'portal' in IE and have it resolve to a local
IP address.

Right-now I can get it work if they use the FQDN, but not just the
hostname. Is there something I can do to make this work using just the
hostname?

Not in DNS. The client can be set to append a domain to queries, in
the TCP/IP config DNS tab of the network connection.

Jeff

 

[Jason Fischer]

In


This is a complicated problem, you wish users to be able to resolve a
single-label name in DNS, clients will not send a single-label name to DNS
unless it is followed by a trailing "." e.g. "portal."
Otherwise, the DNS client service appends the DNS suffix search list to all
single-label name queries. If your clients have a DNS suffix search list and
you have a zone in DNS for the domain name in the list, you can add a record
named portal to this zone with the IP you need it resolved to. Even then,
the web server must be able to use this single-label name on the web site.
Meaning if the web server uses host headers you wont get the site because
portal is not one of its host headers.

Thanks to both of you for your quick respones, your information was very
helpful.

Jason

 

[Guest]

Note that on many networks the clients get their TCP/IP settings from a DHCP
server. Set the default domain there to Yourdomain.local and you'll be able
to ping anything in that domain without using the FQDN.