Eek! Workstations can't see DC!

[Shrum]

I'm at my wits end.

The Server (DC) is on the network, the IP it has is pingable, but when I try to ping it by name it fails.

Additionally, when I try to add new workstations to the domain, I'm getting errors that the DC could not be found. Running DCDIAG indicates the same (name not found, but IP is pingable).

I have:

Dell PowerEdge server hooked into a 24-port LinkSys switch hooked into a LinkSys Wireless WRT54G w/ Alchemy firmware (which is handling all DHCP so users not linked to the server can still get internet access).

This setup was working before but something has changed (unknown to me).

Anyone have any ideas on what I need to do/test/reset to get this working again?

TIA

=============================
Sean Shrum
Shrum Consulting
C.A.T.S.:

http://cats.shrum.net

Consulting:

http://consulting.shrum.net

Programming:

http://programming.shrum.net

R/C Soaring:

http://soaring.shrum.net

 

[porkchopexpress]

Check that your DNS is setup correctly.

Is it possible that your DHCP has started hnading out the address of your ISP's DNS server instead of your internal DNS?

 

[Shrum]

DNS was definately the problem. I'm surprised it worked at all before. I must've enabled the DNS option on the router to start the problem...

I turned off the router DNS, reset/restarted the DNS service on the DC server and defined the local DNS on the router to point to the DC. Then I renewed the IP's on the client stations (thus getting correct local and ISP DNS IPs).

That seemed to do the trick.

Man that was scary...I was actually thinking of rebuilding the server for a minute there.

Thanx.

=============================
Sean Shrum
Shrum Consulting
C.A.T.S.:

http://cats.shrum.net

Consulting:

http://consulting.shrum.net

Programming:

http://programming.shrum.net

R/C Soaring:

http://soaring.shrum.net

 

[porkchopexpress]

I've seen this a few times when another DHCP server is used, it can make think go mad as you have seen.

Glad you sussed it.