Is my problem with DNS?

[Cheryl S.]

Scenario:
One domain, 4 subnets/sites at various locations connected
via high-speed VPN tunnels. DC's located at each site
with DHCP, DNS, AD, WINS running. Windows 2000 servers
with XP clients.

When a user goes to another site/subnet, they log on and
get a new address from the local DHCP. But, within DNS,
they are showing the previous address. Therefore, there
are networking issues, printing and browsing difficulties.

Normally, if the person stays at the new site for a 2nd
day, everything corrects itself which leads me to believe
it's related to all DC's being updated over a period of
time.

Question: Can I do something on the server or client side
for these "traveling" employees to make sure they can
continue to use network resources without losing
connectivity during the period before AD & DNS are updated?

This happens frequently to me as the Systems Admin because
I go to several different locations. Sorry to be so
lengthy. Thanks for any help.
Cheryl
..

 

[Larry Stotler]

Hello,

If your client is configured to "Obtain DNS Server Address Automatically"
then the DHCP server will give out the DNS server IP along with the New IP
it gives to the Client. You must also have the DHCP server configured with
option 006 to specify a DNS server. This will allow the client to pont to
the local DNS server and there should not be any delay in DNS resolution.

Please refer to the following RFC to define available DHCP options:
ftp://ftp.isi.edu/in-notes/rfc1533.txt

You did mention browsing issues also. Browsing is not dependent at all on
DSN name resolution. Instead it uses Netbios name resolution. So a
suggestion is to have a robust WINS infrastructure in place. Remember that
name resolution among all browsers is critical and that the first thing to
do is to establish a robust name resolution infrastructure with WINS. A lot
of time can be wasted trying to track down browser issues, which are really
caused by name resolution problems.

188305 Troubleshooting the Microsoft Computer Browser Service
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=188305

Larry Stotler, MCSE
Microsoft Product Support

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