Windows DNS server for Win2k/XP Pro?

[SBNservices]

Have a client that has backed out on purchasing Windows 2003 Server. But they need this for DNS. We will be installing a Cisco PIX firewall/VPN tunnel for them shortly. We were hoping to use the MS Server's DNS and Wins for remote VPN users. At the moment their only option is to use their ISP's DNS for internet connection, but internally they would have nothing. As such remote users will have difficulty connecting through the tunnel to another users machine via names. Any ideas on another solution? Any freeware DNS server programs for Windows XP/2k?

 

[karmic]

Don't you just love it when clients back out??? The combonation of DNS and WINS is really what you need... Preferrably running on windows server. Will they succumb to the fact that it's going to cost them more in the long run not to buy a server?

As for a solution, are you handy with linux? Red hat Fedora is great for starters if you're not comfortable... and it is free...

~ K.I.S.S - Don't make it any more complex than it has to be ~

 

[SBNservices]

Sadly Linux is out of the question as the software they want to run is Windows only enviroment. And they will not do 2 machines.

 

[karmic]

I'm a consultant, and if clients will not do it the "right" way, then i'll do what they tell me to and bill the heck out of them... Then show them the cost comparison after the fact...

Linux would be a standalone box running your dns and wins...

One other thing you can do, if you have a few machines, is to statically assign all ip's and add the name/ip in the hosts file. then you wouldn't need dns... I've never tried this over a pix vpn but in theory, it should work...


Good luck with it

~ K.I.S.S - Don't make it any more complex than it has to be ~

 

[SBNservices]

It looks like we will just end up creating a hosts file. Problem is we have experienced problems before when the internal DNS has failed, the remote users had connection problems. This could have been the result of the fact the VPN adapter was configured to use the internal DNS. Thing is we are trying to do this on the cheap for them, so we did a configuration that was minimal in terms of time. If it were up to me, yes I would just give them an old pc with Linux on it.

Funny thing is, all said and done, this "server" running Windows XP Pro will no longer be licensed will it. Running Pro as a server in-validates the user license doesn't it? #*&* Microsoft and their *#*&@ license schemes.