I am looking for some practical input fromt he user community on setting up DNS/WINS/DHCP etc in a mixed-mode environment.
What we have - Multiple domains in a mixed-mode environment. Multiple DC's across the WAN. About 200 NT4/W2K servers, a few thousand client etc. We are contantly debating the topic of "Correct" settings for the network.
Servers never uses DHCP - All are manually configured. We have 1 primary DNS W2K server and 3 secondary W2K DNS servers. About 23 DHCP servers (Because of routers, WAN etc) and 4 WINS servers. The primary DNS server is not used by anything - It it simply used to propogate changes etc to the secondary DNS servers (There is an exception which is one point of contention ... More in a bit)
What I suggest ...
A DC should always have it's primary DNS server set at the primary DNS server. Stand Alone servers should have the primary DNS set as the nearest DNS server, and the secondary as the next nearest.
Under the DNS tab of TCP/IP properties - Append primary and connection specific DNS suffixes checked off. DNS suffix for this connection filled in - e.g. domain.com. I never use "Append these DNS suffixes in order". Register this connections address in DNS checke off. The primary suffix is set under the clients properties to be domain.com.
Under WINS - Enable NetBIOS over TCP.
Questions:
1-What is the caveat of usig append DNS suffixes in order instead of using primary and connection specific DNS?
2-In a mixed-mode environment why not use Disable NetBIOS in the WINS tab?
3-Should DC's use the primary DNS server as the 1st DNS server or the nearest DNS server?
4-Does anyone have any docs etc detailing pro's and con's to each method of configuration?
Thank You
What we have - Multiple domains in a mixed-mode environment. Multiple DC's across the WAN. About 200 NT4/W2K servers, a few thousand client etc. We are contantly debating the topic of "Correct" settings for the network.
Servers never uses DHCP - All are manually configured. We have 1 primary DNS W2K server and 3 secondary W2K DNS servers. About 23 DHCP servers (Because of routers, WAN etc) and 4 WINS servers. The primary DNS server is not used by anything - It it simply used to propogate changes etc to the secondary DNS servers (There is an exception which is one point of contention ... More in a bit)
What I suggest ...
A DC should always have it's primary DNS server set at the primary DNS server. Stand Alone servers should have the primary DNS set as the nearest DNS server, and the secondary as the next nearest.
Under the DNS tab of TCP/IP properties - Append primary and connection specific DNS suffixes checked off. DNS suffix for this connection filled in - e.g. domain.com. I never use "Append these DNS suffixes in order". Register this connections address in DNS checke off. The primary suffix is set under the clients properties to be domain.com.
Under WINS - Enable NetBIOS over TCP.
Questions:
1-What is the caveat of usig append DNS suffixes in order instead of using primary and connection specific DNS?
2-In a mixed-mode environment why not use Disable NetBIOS in the WINS tab?
3-Should DC's use the primary DNS server as the 1st DNS server or the nearest DNS server?
4-Does anyone have any docs etc detailing pro's and con's to each method of configuration?
Thank You