Windows 2003 - DNS

[spc1]

Hello,

I am running a windows 2003 network with a two domain controllers at our main site. We are opening up a new office and I want to extend the domain to the new site over a site to site IPSEC VPN. I want to add a DC at the new offices but I am stuck on how to configure the DNS. The new site will be on a different subnet than the main site. I have setup the new dc in a test environment and have configured AD site and services. I cant get the DC’s to replicate. It tell me to configure DNS properly. If I need to create a secondary dns zone then how?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Many Thanks

SPC1

 

[Tightpants]

Our DNS settings are as follows:

- The Primary DC (192.168.1.1) should point to itself as the only DNS server in the LAN properties. In the forwarders tab in DNS it must have ISP's DNS servers listed.
- The Replica DC (192.168.1.2) on the same site must point to the Primary DC as the primary DNS server and itself as a secondary DNS server in the LAN properties. In the forwarders tab in DNS it must also have ISP's DNS servers listed.
- The DC at a remote site (192.168.2.1) should also be configured as a DNS server. It should point to itself as the primary DNS server and the PDC in the other site (192.168.1.1) as the secondary DNS server. In the forwarders tab in DNS it must also have ISP's DNS servers listed.

Check DHCP is set up correctly and is authorised. DHCP should provide workstations with their primary and secondary DNS servers - 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.1.2 respectively on the main site, and 192.168.2.1 and 192.168.1.1 at the remote site. Workstations must not be configured with ISP's DNS servers.

 

[spc1]

Thanks for your reply, Is it ok to have two primary DNS servers on a single domain with a secondary as well?

 

[Tightpants]

You can have more than one DNS server but the clients will need to point to one of them as their primary DNS server. Ideally they should all point to the same one and only revert to the second if the first is not available.