domain controller not showing up under my network places

[taval]

Hi,

I have a DC computer and several other computers on a network. Why can't I see the DC under my network places on one of the computer on the network, I should be able to see the computer, shouldn't I. Any reason why I wouldn't?

Thanks,
Taha

 

[LiverpoolFan]

Can you ping the machine from that computer (DNS resolution)? Can you attach to it (WINS resolution)?

 

[taval]

When I try to ping, it says host unreachable. All the computers are connected via a switch. I had just promoted a DC to run AD, but then I realised I couldn't even test if that was working because the computers are not seeing each other.

 

[LiverpoolFan]

Right, ensure that your PC has the same DNS server and WINS server as your server, if not change them to be the same and see if that helps.

This should hopefully resolve the name resolution problem. It will be best to reboot the PC after doing this, even if you are using XP, as WINS entry for the PC may not register correctly (even though NBTSTAT -RR should do the trick).

 

[taval]

Just as a test, I put the computers on a workgroup and they could see each other and access each other. I then tried putting the computers back on the domain. When I tired to put the computers back on the domain I got the message "The specified domain either no longer exists or could not be contacted". Is there any way to check the domain controller is functioning correctly.

 

[LiverpoolFan]

It most definately sounds like a name resolution issue on those PC's, as I said, ensure the WINS and DNS entries are the same on those PC's as on the server/DC.

To check, from a command prompt run:

IPCONFIG /ALL

 

[taval]

The DNS Server IP on the netoworked machines is pointing to the DC IP address, and the DC's DNS Server IP points to its own IP.

 

[LiverpoolFan]

What about WINS?

What you could try doing is putting entries into the LMHOSTS file as well (on the PC).