Joining a domain.

[jake]

I am running W2K Advanced Server and am trying to join a
W2K host to my domain but keep getting the error 'The
specified domain either does not exist or could not be
contacted'. I can sucessfully ping the server and vice
versa but still cannot join.

I read in an article on the Microsoft website that it is
something to do with DNS zone file using an alias (CNAME)
file as the target host of the Service Locator records.
I don't completly understand what this means or how to
resolve the problem of hosts joining my domain.

Can anyone throw any light on my problem?

Thank you,

Jake

 

[Mitch Tulloch]

Is there any event recorded in the System event log on the domain controller
when this happens?
--
Cheers, Mitch Tulloch
Windows Server Hacks
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/winsvrhks/

This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties and confers no rights.

 

[Roland Hall]

in message : I am running W2K Advanced Server and am trying to join a
: W2K host to my domain but keep getting the error 'The
: specified domain either does not exist or could not be
: contacted'. I can sucessfully ping the server and vice
: versa but still cannot join.
:
: I read in an article on the Microsoft website that it is
: something to do with DNS zone file using an alias (CNAME)
: file as the target host of the Service Locator records.
: I don't completly understand what this means or how to
: resolve the problem of hosts joining my domain.

Jake...

When running AD, you're running local DNS and should point your servers and
workstation to the primary local DNS server and never to any ISPs servers.
Running ipconfig /all on all systems will verify what you have configured.
If you show us here, we can help you.

HTH...

--
Roland Hall
/* This information is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability
or fitness for a particular purpose. */
Online Support for IT Professionals -
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/technet/default.asp?fr=0&sd=tech
How-to: Windows 2000 DNS:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308201

 

[Jake]

Does that mean I need to install DNS on my server and
configure a zone? If so do I make it a root server? How
does this relate to my internet connection?

Jake

 

[Roland Hall]

in message : Does that mean I need to install DNS on my server and
: configure a zone? If so do I make it a root server? How
: does this relate to my internet connection?

If you're behind a firewall and running AD, then you need local DNS. It
should not be a root server. You configure a zone based on your local DNS
name, which many be domain.local or internal.domain.com. (domain.com is an
example name). In your forward lookup zone you make sure you do not have a
.. (dot aka root) entry. In your DNS settings for this W2K Adv. Server and
other servers/workstations, you point the primary DNS to this server's local
IP. (ex. 192.168.0.2) If you're running DHCP, then you can easily set the
workstations by allowing them to get it from there. You can also set a
forwarder to your ISPs DNS servers to increase performance for name
resolution on the net but it is optional. The upside, as I stated, is
performance. The downside is it can introduce a point of failure should
your ISP have DNS issues. If you do not set a forwarder then root hints
will be used and there is nothing for you to do for that to happen other
than making sure you do not have the root entry in your forward lookup, as I
mentioned earlier.

The problem you might be having is that you're using your ISPs DNS servers
and they do not have any entries for any devices on your local network so
naming, locally, will fail.

Setting up DNS doesn't have anything to do with your internet connectivity
since it is only naming. However, if you are using local DNS and cannot
resolve names on the Internet, it usually means you have the root entry in
your forward lookup and need to remove it.

HTH...

--
Roland Hall
/* This information is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability
or fitness for a particular purpose. */
Online Support for IT Professionals -
http://support.microsoft.com/servicedesks/technet/default.asp?fr=0&sd=tech
How-to: Windows 2000 DNS:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308201