We have three servers (PDC is SBS 2003 and two W2K servers in the same
domain). The PDC has DNS installed and the router is handling DHCP. In
addition, all desktops are WinXP Pro and are configured to obtain the DNS
address automatically. The router is configured with DNS1 and DNS2 pointing
to the ISPs servers.

What is the proper way to configure the DNS settings on all three servers?
Should they point to themselves, the PDC, the router, or a combination?

Also, I noticed all the desktops show only the two ISP DNS servers when I do
ipconfig /all on them. Is this correct? Shouldn't they should be pointing to
the PDC or the router?

Thanks for your .

Tom

> We have three servers (PDC is SBS 2003 and two W2K servers in the same
> domain). The PDC has DNS installed and the router is handling DHCP. In
> addition, all desktops are WinXP Pro and are configured to obtain the DNS
> address automatically. The router is configured with DNS1 and DNS2
> pointing
> to the ISPs servers.
>

If your router is giving your AD clients your ISP's DNS (through DHCP)
settings this is wrong.
It should give out the address of the DNS server set up for the AD domain.
For Internet access you can set up forwarders on the AD DNS server and list
your ISP's DNS servers there, or use root hints.




> Also, I noticed all the desktops show only the two ISP DNS servers when I
> do
> ipconfig /all on them. Is this correct? Shouldn't they should be pointing
> to
> the PDC or the router?

Actually they should point to the DNS server set up for the AD domain ONLY.


> What is the proper way to configure the DNS settings on all three servers?
> Should they point to themselves, the PDC, the router, or a combination?
>

If you only have the one AD PDC with DNS installed, they should point to
this server ONLY.
The DNS server should point to itself for DNS in the properties of TCP/IP.

See:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/814591/en-us

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/825036/en-us
In the article above, remember Servers are AD clients also.

For Internet access:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323380/en-us


hth
DDS


"TomH" <TomH@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B5F93868-BB66-4694-8C51-DC12AAE252F7@microsoft.com...
> We have three servers (PDC is SBS 2003 and two W2K servers in the same
> domain). The PDC has DNS installed and the router is handling DHCP. In
> addition, all desktops are WinXP Pro and are configured to obtain the DNS
> address automatically. The router is configured with DNS1 and DNS2
> pointing
> to the ISPs servers.
>
> What is the proper way to configure the DNS settings on all three servers?
> Should they point to themselves, the PDC, the router, or a combination?
>
> Also, I noticed all the desktops show only the two ISP DNS servers when I
> do
> ipconfig /all on them. Is this correct? Shouldn't they should be pointing
> to
> the PDC or the router?
>
> Thanks for your .
>
> Tom