DNS/Router/Network/Internet prob - Pls HELP!

[tony1853]

The network: Server is running Win2K Server. 9 client workstations, all running WinXP Pro. Static IP’s. Running activity directory. D-Link 10/100 16-port switch.

Comcast came in yesterday and installed a Cisco router. Apparently, it’s a modem/router combo because the coax cable (we have commercial cable service) is connected right to it. The tech assigned the router an IP in our scope (192.168.8.x). When he was done, he came over to me and gave me the gateway address he assigned to the router, and the ISP’s primary and alternate DNS server addresses. I made the changes to the network settings on my workstation, and BAM! I had Internet access. Life was grand. I also made the necessary network config changes to 2 other workstations. We were all happy. We shut our computers down for the night.

When we restarted and logged-in this morning, we immediately noticed that it took a very long time to hit the desktop after logging in. After that, we had no access to our mapped network drives, and the computer would lock-up when trying to open up “My Computer”. One error message I received when trying to open a mapped drive was something about the connection could not be enabled, and to make sure that I had access to the server that authenticated me.(?) This problem only exists on the 3 machines I made the network config changes to (the rest were operating normally)…additionally, if I delete the DNS server IP address from each workstation and then restart (even with leaving the gateway as the router's IP), I have no network problems at all.

…So, I’m guessing this has something to do with DNS…I have no idea what, though. One thing perhaps worth noting…we are running Active Directory. The domain name is “local”, not “local.com”. When I was setting up Active Directory, it wouldn’t accept a domain name with the “.com” suffix. We do have webpage for which we have a registered domain name, but it is hosted by Valueweb. Additionally, Comcast assigned us a static, public IP…I haven’t been able to ping that address, and I can’t hit it through my Internet Explrorer. Also, the network (TCP/IP props) for ther server have the ISP's DNS settings).

HELP!!!! PLEASE!!!! Any ideas?

Thanks very very much,

Tony

 

[BuckWeet]

It most likely is DNS, Win2k with active directory uses DNS (if defined) instead of netbios broadcasts. So the fact that you specified a DNS server external to your network, they're trying to resolve your server through the external DNS.

Resolution, set your DNS settings (under the network card properties) on the server and client to point to the IP of the win2k AD running the DNS service. Then all the queries will hit that server, and the server itself will go out to the net and get the dns query replies.

Hope this helps


BuckWeet

 

[tony1853]

Thanks buckweet, i will try that...i think i did try setting the clients' DNS server address to that of the fileserver (without success)...but, i think at that time the server's DNS info was external (i.e., the ISP's). I will set BOTH the clients' and server's DNS settings to the server's IP, and give that a try...

I'll post the results...THANKS AGAIN

 

[tony1853]

Just to verify...NO computer in the network would have the DNS settings of the ISP?

Thanks, Tony