Stumped, maybe DNS

L

legalize

New Member
Let me try to explain this the best I could, and hope someone can help me out.

I have a:

Server (MSFT Server 2008) running DHCP, DNS, AD

Laptop running Vista and an XP virtual machine

I also have a bunch of other devices on the network and all obtain an IP just fine from the DHCP server. All devices also have no problem with accessing the 'net.

The DNS server was installed with Active Directory, and I did little in terms of configuration other than adding a reverse look up zone. Also I initially added Scope Options to include my default gateway and actual outside DNS servers.
I later changed the actual DNS servers to my DNS server and instead added conditional forwarders to those outside DNS servers.

After an ipconfig /renew all my machines are still able to access the web.

Now for the problem, which I discovered after trying to join my VM to a domain... The VM wasn't resolving names. I can ping any IP on the network, but can't ping names, they don't resolve!
Edit: Just to add, ping -a resolves the IP to a name.

The host running Vista resolves everything just fine.

Upon investigating further...

I cannot ping any system from the server, well except itself! That's partially a lie actually, I can ping my router. -Not sure if this is proper behavior or not, figured might as well ask that too.

Thanks in advance for any input!
 
Last edited:
This sounds a bit silly, but unless the network set-up has been established correctly, and the firewall settings are optimized, it would explain the issue.

Try running the network set-up wizard again with all systems, and then try to ping them again. If they still won't communicate properly, try to optimize your Windows Firewall settings for home network performance, or remove the firewall completely and try to ping once more.
 
Only the server doesn't ping other machines, all the machines can ping each other just fine including the server. However only the vista machine can resolve hostname to ip... I need to boot my othe computer and see if it can resolve names
 
I've tried another computer with Server 08 on it... I get internet access but can ONLY ping the server IP, not my laptop or VM. Doesn't resolve host names either.

Vista still resolves everything just fine. What a friggin' joke. Tried flushing DNS, renewing config, it doesn't break Vista nor does it fix the others.
 
Wish I could, had to leave for work... Is there anything specific you're looking for? Maybe I can remember off the top of my head, I've been staring at it so long haha

Otherwise I'll post it late tonight if I don't fix it.
 
Fixed.

I read a little more about DNS and conditional forwarding... realized it's the issue right away.
I still don't know why the Vista machine was resolving names, but with the conditional forwarding set, the local name resolution was trying to happen on my ISPs DNS servers and never on my local one:P
 
I never use conditional forwarding anyway. I just use the normal forwarders. Much easier to configure and in 99% of the cases more than enough features. I don't know what you've done now. But you could just put your isp's dns servers in there. Your dns server will then just forward anything he can't resolve.
 
Now I just have the local DNS server (itself) listed in the "Server Options" so that it gets set to clients... supposedly when it can't resolve a name it shoots for the router which gets DNS settings automatically.

Everything seems to be functioning properly now, knock on wood!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top