Got internet, can't get domain controller 1

[Trip0d]

I have a network here of about a dozen PC's. Two of them are laptops that are wireless. Usually, there are no problems, but today is a different story.

10 of the PC's are connected via cable, regular ol' CAT5. The two laptops connect via a NetGear wireless router to the rest of the network, which includes a Window 2000 Server, Domain Controller that also has our accounting software on it. The router had been unplugged from the network, and now I can't get the one laptop to see the rest of the network (I plugged the router back in, of course).

The trouble is, I can't see any printers, the server, or any other pc's (the other laptop doesn't use the accounting software, and doesn't need the server. It goes straight out to the internet like usual...nothing is wrong there).

I am trying to make one network use the resource on a node above it. It was working before the hub was unplugged. The software on the server that I am trying to use requires that you map a network drive. I can handle that...it's just that I can't see the server that I need to map to.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, as the laptop in trouble is the boss's and tomorrow is my last day here.

 

[bcastner]

http://www.michna.com/kb/wxnet.htm

http://www.michna.com/kb/WxNetwork.htm#Workgroup_is_not_accessible

If you do an ipconfig /all, what does the IP for the troublesome machine look like? What Node Type is reported?

 

[Trip0d]

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>ipconfig /all

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Casey
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : hardee.local.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 5:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connecti
on
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-E0-B8-4F-7C-FC

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : hardee.local.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/Wireless LAN PC Card
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-02-B3-C4-5D-AD
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 65.32.1.65
65.32.1.70
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Wednesday, November 24, 2004 8:09:40
AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Saturday, November 27, 2004 8:09:40
AM

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>


Maybe I wasn't clear enough with the network topography...let me explain this way:

Here are the devices in the network from the outside in:
Internet
Cable Modem
Router
Big Honking Switch (and this is where the rest of the computers on the network connect)
Wireless Router (here is where I connect)
Finally, Wireless Laptop.

I hope this clarifies my situation a little. Thank you for you help...

 

[bcastner]

Disable DHCP on the wireless router.

 

[Trip0d]

err...which end of it? DHCP to the laptop? or DHCP from the rest of the network?

 

[bcastner]

The DHCP server on the wireless router. You can set the router itself to pull a DHCP address from the network as well.

The issue is that as now configured the router is greating a new network segment at 192.168.0.x, and pointing its DHCP clients (your wireless adapter) to itself as Gateway. In a Domain you want the DC to assign IPs, and you want the DNS entries to point only to the DC and not the internet. See the discussion of the issue in faq779-4017

 

[bcastner]

Note too that the WAN port on the router should not be used. You should connect to your existing switch using a cross-over cable to your "Big Honking Switch".

 

[Trip0d]

Ya know...I should have though of that, but my crimper and ends are not here...

This whole mess was working fine for a few months...then yesterday, one of the sales man unplugged the uplink cable from the router, and I've been having trouble ever since.

 

[Trip0d]

I was also thinking to switch modes on the router, and turn it into an access point. It doesn't have that capability. Then I thought I could DMS it. Well, it doesn't have that either.

 

[bcastner]

If you disable DHCP on the router, and plug into your switch using a regular ethernet (not the WAN port), you now have an access point with three free ethernet switches.

There is nothing else needed to be done.
The router will pull a HOST address from your Domain DHCP server, as will the wireless clients.

 

[Trip0d]

dude...that did it. Thanks man. I really appreciate it. wow...I was hoping I wouldn't have to leave this place hanging with something like this...haha..the salesman plugged the cable back into the wrong port. Thanks a million, bcastner!

 

[bcastner]

You are very welcome.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Bill Castner

 

[Trip0d]

You too. Happy Turkey Day to you too. (I'll be moving from Florida to Arkansas this Thanksgiving...yay! (not!) I have to take advantage of the long weekend)...and thanks again. I like my boss...these were good people to work for, and I didn't want to leave something broken.

Cheers...
Trip0d

 

[webcortech]

I also had a similar problem, but it was the XP 2 firewall blocking me from joining a domain... crazy