DNS server already installed?...confused

[cbailey]

After installing a Windows 2000 server, there is already a configuration for a DNS server that co insides with the server name. I purchased “DNS on Windows 2000” book to help me configure DNS. However, with information already in place already, I am confused trying to follow the book and / or edit the current entries.

Can I delete the current DNS server info and start from scratch or will this affect the server is some way? Or, is it best just to edit what it there and learn about forwarding?

Thanks for the help

 

[wbg34]

When you "installed" win2k server did you also install Active Directory? If so, then DNS would have been set up for your domain. You can check out this FAQ faq96-3017 to see if your DNS is set up properly for Win2k.

 

[cbailey]

Thanks, that document was great!!! I wasted money on this book that came with high reviews, but I still don't understand it.

Now that DNS is working, my workstation gets out using the DNS servers ip address as the DNS server.

How do I setup cashing of requests and internal servers? This book gives me a headache.

Thanks again

 

[wbg34]

You can modify the dns cache settings by following this guide.

http://www.windows2000faq.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=27024

 

[cbailey]

Thanks for the help, but how do I add internal servers so I don't have to keep updating the host file on all my workstations.

Thanks

 

[wbg34]

If AD has not automatically added a DNS entry for domain members, then you can add an entry by goint to start --> Programs --> admin tools and choosing DNS. Click on the plus next to your server name, then click on the plus next to forward lookup zones and then click on the plus next to your domain name. Make sure there isn't an entry for your internal server there. If there isn't, then right click on your domain name and select add new host. Enter the host name and IP of the host you want to add.

 

[cbailey]

There was a host entry:

SERVERNAME HOST 192.168.1.1

and I deleted it.

There is also an entry

(Same as parent folder) HOST 192.168.1.1

Do I delete this one as well?

I added an entry to the forward lookup and added

SERVERNAME2 HOST 192.168.1.5

But this enty does nothing. from the workstation side, if I type nslookup SERVERNAME2 I get:

can't find server name for address 192.168.1.1 : Non-existant domain
****Default servers are unavailable
Server: unknown
Address 192.168.1.1

Sorry if I am being diffucult

Thanks for the help

 

[wbg34]

OK sorry I was a bit vague in my above directions and you deleted something that you shouldn't have, but that was my fault. The internal server entry that I meant was for the one that you wanted to add not for SERVERNAME. You will want to re-enter the host entry for SERVERNAME. You should be able to do it the same way you did with SERVERNAME2.
Next, you will want to click on the plus next to reverse lookup zones. Expand the ZONE for your ip range and right click on that folder and select add new pointer. Fill in the info for SERVERNAME.
Run NSLOOKUP again.

 

[cbailey]

The entry I deleted got added back by its self. So that entry must be needed by the server

There was also an entry in the reverse lookup zone for SERVERNAME. I added SERVERNAME2's info as well but get the following error when I "NSLOOKUP SERVERNAME2"


*****SERVERNAME.DOMAIN.LOCAL can't find SERVERNAME2:Server failed

In the Forward lookup I have SERVERNAME2 added. Is this wrong? I also added the info to the host file on the server.

 

[cbailey]

One note:

If I NSLOOKUP SERVERNAME2, it fails

If I NSLOOKUP 192.168.1.5 it returns SERVERNAME2 + IP Address

Any Ideas?

Thanks

 

[wbg34]

That would seem to indicate that the Forward lookup zone host entry isn't correct and that the reverse entry is working properly. Look at your host record again for servername2 and make sure there isn't anything wrong with it. Delete it and recreate the host entry if necessary.

 

[cbailey]

It looks like I have a problem with the Forward lookup zone.
I recreated the host file on the server, and checked all my spelling and IP addresses. I can add the servers in the reverse lookup zone and can nslookup the ip address with no problems. I just can't nslookup by name.

Any other ideas?

Thanks

 

[wbg34]

On your server open a command prompt and type nslookup.
Type set querytype=all(no spaces by the '=' sign) and then type yourdomainname.com. Copy and paste the results change any necessary info for privacy reasons.

 

[cbailey]

Maybe I'm missing something?

If I type nslookup I get:
Default Server: servername.domain.local
Address: 192.168.1.1
>

At the symbole prompt,I typed:
set querytype=all

>
servername.com

I get back:

*** servername.domain.local cant find servername.com: non-existant domain

 

[wbg34]

Did you setup Active Directory on the win2000 server. Also what is the name of your Forward Lookup Zone. Finally do the same thin with nslookup but type in domain.local instead of yourdomainname.com.

 

[cbailey]

I did not setup active directory personaly, I'm guessing it got setup by default upon setup. I didn't set up DNS either, but it exists. This is what I get when I type nslookup for domain.local

servername.local internet address = 192.168.1.1
servername.local nameserver = servername.domain.local
servername.local

Primary Name Server = servername.domain.local
responsible mail addr = admin
Serial 66
Refresh = 900(15 mins)
Retry = 600 (10 mins)
expires = 86400 (1 day)
default TTL = 3600 (1 hour)

 

[cbailey]

FYI

Active Directory is installed, but doesn't seem to be configured. I has the DNS server name and info in it.

Do I need to make any changes to active directory?

 

[wbg34]

Ok, Your best bet would be to remove your forward lookup zone and reverse lookup zones and then run dcpromo to get AD set up correctly. After AD is set up correctly you will be able to go into your forward lookup zone and add host files for your other servers.

 

[cbailey]

OOOUCH!!!

That dcpromo removed Active Directory and all of it's info.

After reboot I reinstalled Active directory. I may have messed up - I called the server name ending with a .com instead of .local.

In any case, both forward and reverse lookup zones don't work, except for its self

nslookup servername

Server: servername
Address 192.168.1.1

*** servername can't find servername: Server failed


nslookup 192.168.1.1

Server: Servername
Address: 192.168.1.1

Name: Servername
Address: 192.168.1.1

All other servers get:

nslookup 192.168.1.3

Server: servername
address: 192.168.1.1

*** Servername can't find 192.168.1.3: Non-existant domain

nslookup Servername2

Server: Servername
address: 192.168.1.1

*** Servername can't find servername2: Server failed

Do I need the A record in forward zone for Servername and all new servers I want discoverd?