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SBS 2003 loses IP configuration after running CEICW

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ktdancoff

IS-IT--Management
Mar 31, 2007
2
US
Hello all,
I have been reading through this forum because I am at my wits end and and hoping that someone can shed some light on my situation. Last week I set up SBS2003 on PC; a workstation but a fairly heavy duty workstation. First I added a second network adapter per the instructions I had read and started the install. The software seemed to load fine, after I figured out that I needed a RAID driver which I downloaded and added from a floppy at Windows set up.

Anyway, everythig seemed fine. I started configuring the server and things were rolling along, I entered all of the static IP information I received from Cox Internet after I upgraded to their business service and started to run the Configure E-mail and Internet Connection Wizard and BOOM my static IP settings, seemingly, chenged themselves. The default gateway disappeared. The alternate DNS setting disappeared and, oddly, the primary DNS is changed to match the static IP address and, obviously, the network connection in lost. I can go in to the NIC settings, repopulate the numbers and get back on the internet UNTIL I run the Configure E-mail and Internet Connection Wizard again, at which point it all happens again.

I have not yet been able to add any workstations to the domain, which I am guessing is related to the above. I also came across the following error in the Event Viewer:

The DNS server has encountered a critical error from the Active Directory. Check that the Active Directory is functioning properly. The extended error debug information (which may be empty) is "". The event data contains the error.

And this message:

The DNS server list of restricted interfaces does not contain a valid IP address for the server computer. The DNS server will use all IP interfaces on the machine.

Use the DNS manager server properties, interfaces dialog, to verify and reset the IP addresses the DNS server should listen on. For more information, see "To restrict a DNS server to listen only on selected addresses" in the online Help.


What do I need to do? Has anyone else ever seen anything like this? PLEASE help...I will offer bribes, food, whatever..just PLEASE help =).
 
Welcome to your FIRST SBS experience! :)

It is a widely held belief within the SBS Community that SBS takes at least three installations before you get it right. The first to just get the hang of things and learn from all your mistakes. The second to get most of it right, and the third to actually be able to configure the proper settings for your specific business.

So... you may be done with Install #1... I just thought I'd prepare you for that. Because thruth be told... you could fix your problems, but it would take a lot less time to reinstall.

My guess is that you missed one critical piece that occurs ONLY the first time you ever run the CEICW, which is to designate which NIC is your Internal and which is the External. Either that, or you've put the manual settings in the wrong places.

If you'd kindly post a COMPLETE ipconfig /all from the server I can check that. You may want to XXX out just the last couple of octets of any PUBLIC IP address, but other info is important to the review.



Jeffrey B. Kane
TechSoEasy
Blog:
 
Thanks for the follow up! A few days ago I did exactly what you suggested and, by golly, you are even right about the step that I missed. Reinstalled the OS, designated the appropriate NIC and life is good now.

Having an issue with one workstation the will not join the domain...the cool thing is that it gives me a very helpful error message "An error has occurred"...but I will tinker with that this weekend and put up a new post if I struggle with it for more than an hour or two.

Thanks again for your help, it is nice to know that I did the right thing...eventually. =)
 
Well... sorry I missed your initial question. But glad you got it going. After installing over 100 SBS's I've gotten fairly good at sniffing out what's going wrong.

That wonderful generic "an error has occurred" is most always caused by one or more of the following:
1. Not having the SBS provide DHCP
2. Not allowing the workstation to get network settings via DHCP
3. Having a 3rd party firewall on the workstation such as zonealarm

(Since I was late on your first question... I thought it only fair to do the second) :)



Jeffrey B. Kane
TechSoEasy
Blog:
 
I am having the same issue. I only have one NIC. When I change the TCP/IP settings to the correct DNS and restore the internet connection on the server (workstations can still connect), then the companyweb cannot be displayed. I feel really lost right now. This is my first SBS installation (it is for my brother's business). When I first intalled, he did not have a static IP, but a couple of months ago, he upgraded his DSL to static. Is it really necessary to reload SBS to clean this up?
 
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