Is DNS needed on a Win2k DC??

[netadmin06]

Hello to all, I have a network with 25 computers ad Windows 2k Server (domain controller,)My router gives out ip's (DHCP) and when I do a ipconfig /all on a client the DNS servers listed are my ISP's.....question is if i should have the DC also be a DNS server? does this help in anyway??...is it needed?....for some reason after the the weekend when a client tries to access anything from the server it takes way too long ( 2 minutes to open a small word file ).........DNS is turned on in the server I was thinking about turning it off...help please??

 

[Davetoo]

You should have DNS installed and configured on your server (in fact, you have to in a domain). Your DHCP should point your clients to your server for DNS, and your server should have your ISP's setup as forwarders. If your clients have your ISP's DNS, they're configured incorrectly. Fix it. You should also have your server point to itself for DNS and not your ISP.

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[netadmin06]

Davetoo thanks for the reply, DNS is running on that server but DHCP isn't. CLients are gettign ip and dns information from the router. Is this bad??

 

[Davetoo]

I would setup and run DHCP from the server and turn it off at the router.

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[netadmin06]

is that going to help though????.....also should the server have a static ip??? if so why??

 

[Davetoo]

Uh yes, it's going to prevent your clients from getting the wrong DNS information. And absolutely the server should have a static IP, that's basic stuff. You've identified yourself as a network admin, these questions are pretty 101 stuff. You might be better off starting out with a How-To book and learning the basics of networking and servers.

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.

 

[rws70]

I concur with Davetwo.

In a windows 2000 domain, the domain controller must be running DNS and also let it run DHCP. Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs and then to Add/Remove Windows components to install these services.

Update the server to service pack 4. Go to C:\winnt\servicepackfiles\i386 (hidden system folder) and right click on adminpack.msi and install the Administrative Tools so you can configure these services.

Clients get IP dynamically from the domain controller.

As Davetwo mentioned DNS on the domain controller Forwards to the ISP dns servers.