DNS Problems 1

[jonwilbanks]

Situation:
I have 4 servers, all DC's, 1 Email Server(Exchange2000),1 Web server(IIS5), 'First DC', and 1 whose role is yet to be determined. All boxes running Win2K server with AD in all it's glory.

Questions:
Should each server have DNS entries for external name servers or should they point to the Primary 'First DC'?
The 'First DC' has the entries for the external name servers.

Should the clients have external name servers listed?

Should I delete the .root entry on the 'First DC'?

 

[brontosaurus]

Answers:

1) Assuming you're using AD integrated DNS, you can set the forwarders on all servers, or you can just use root hints.

2) Clients should only be pointing to internal DNS.

3) If you want access to the internet, you need to delete the "." zone

 

[jonwilbanks]

Thank you so much for your response.

On a quick redirect could you enlighten me on root hints, and can you tell me what the setting should be for Preferred DNS Server in the TCP/IP properties of the NIC on the Primary DNS server('First DC') in my domain.
Should it point to itself or one of the external nameservers?

 

[brontosaurus]

Root Hints are simply the internet root name servers that will be used in lieu of Forwarders.
The Primary DNS DC should point to itself on the properties of it's NIC.