Domain and Adding Computers

[DoughboyII]

Okay guys I need some assistance please. I have a win2000 Server and 18 workstations. I want to create a domain and have the 18 workstation login in to it. The server tells me I must have Active Directory running in order to make it a PDC. This is the only PDC we would have on our network. So I say okay next it wants the DNS information. Here is where we get into trouble. We are a School District and our DNS is resolved at the wnyric, out of house. So anyways I put in wnyric.org for the dns. So it sets everything up and it says its already to go...so I go to a workstation to add it and it asks for the domain name and I say wnyric.org it sits and comes up with an error saying cannot valdiate wnyric.org. These are all win2000 Prof machines. If I'm missing something please fill me in I'll check every 5 min.

 

[Keenan]

it sounds like you installed DNS but didn't configure it. dns is required for active directory, and active directory is required for domain controllers.

i recommend you get a good book on W2K server to walk you through the dns setup.

you might also want to use a different domain than wnyric.org for your private network, since it's already in use by a public domain.

 

[butchrecon]

When Active Directory asks for your DNS, put in your Domain name. Then configurean IP range for DNS (Your AD server IP if you do not have a separate DNS server). As Keenan suggested, go get a book on setting up AD and administering it. It is not easy to administer. James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.

 

[DoughboyII]

This is where the problem comes into play we run DHCP for our IP ranges which resides on a different server (which is not a PDC, and is not running AD either) Isn't it possible just to create a domain and have computers join without DNS? If not how can I get this Server to point somewhere else for the DNS information?

 

[butchrecon]

Nope. DNS is required for AD. When the AD installation wizrds asks for DNS you can give (A network admin can) it the DNS of another server running DNS. Once DNS is done and verified then AD is setup correctly and you should be able to add PC's. I dont think it will accept the DNS #'s from a DIFFERENT domain. I am not sure on that though. James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.

 

[DoughboyII]

I'm almost through it now when I go to add a pc it asks of course for the user and password able to add a computer but comes up with an error for an invalid network path.

 

[butchrecon]

REMOVE it from the workgroup first (Change the workgroup name to WORKGROUP) Then try to readd the machine when the workgroup has been changed. then let us know how it went. James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.

 

[DoughboyII]

Well I changed the workgroup to workgroup rebooted and then tried to add it to the domain but I still get invalid network path. Is it a name resolution thing? I called the domain 2000lab......Here is some more information. We use 168.169.8.8 and 8.19 for DNS the domain name we are in from the wnyric is wnyric.org. Should we be using DHCP on this server also instead of a different server? I dont want this little Domain to be global just locally for 18 stations. Well the day is over here I hope I have better luck tomorrow