DHCP and DNS working?

[Guest]

My domain controller (2000 Server) is up and running. DHCP appears to be
working. All clients attaching to the network are receiving IP addresses that
fall in the scope I created (as well as the designated subnet mask). I
installed DNS, but
didn't configure it. It would appear to be working because I can ping hosts
by name. This does confirm that DNS is working right?

I did choose to use my wireless router as an access point instead of as a
router and in turn let my domain controller handle DHCP. In an office
environment would you let the router handle DHCP, the domain controller, or a
seperate DHCP server?

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Nope, this proves nothing. Windows 2000 PCs can use alternate means such as
NetBIOS name resolution to resolve network names in the absence of DNS. If
you installed but did not configure it, the DNS server is sitting there
doing nothing.

In a Windows 2000 AD domain it is always preferable to let the domain
controller handle DHCP functions, as DHCP and DNS in AD will work
hand-in-hand to keep your address schemes and name resolution running
smoothly.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
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[Phillip Windell]

Nope, this proves nothing. Windows 2000 PCs can use alternate means such as
NetBIOS name resolution to resolve network names in the absence of DNS. If
you installed but did not configure it, the DNS server is sitting there
doing nothing.

He may have configured it and not know it . Well,... what I mean is,..
if it is a DC then the DCPromo process would automatically install and
configure DNS without ever having to go into the DNS MMC.

But anyway, yes, pinging the name wouldn't prove anything assuming it was
the netbios name. Pinging by using the domains FQDN would demonstrate if it
is working though wouldn't it? Wouldn't it succeed by netbios name but fail
with the FQDN if the DNS wasn't functioning?

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

In Windows 2000 there is a security issue running DHCP on a domain
controller with secure DDNS updates. However, you can address this by
configuring the DHCP server to run under a user instead of machine account.
See:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;255134

The issue is similar in Windows 2003. See:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;282001

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Richard G. Harper]

That is an excellent question - like you, I'd assume that pinging
MACHINENAME would work no matter what, but MACHINENAME.DOMAIN.FQDN should
fail unless DNS is working. Not having had DNS fall over, though ...

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm