Clients can't join domain-new Primary Domain Controller installed

Literally throwing out the current PDC (arbritrarydomain.com) and installing
a new one.

We currently have a website (websitename.com), which is hosted offsite and
the new domain I created is called staff.websitename.com. We also have a
static IP from the ISP.

I created the Active Directory, DNS and DHCP on the new server and when I
browse the network, I can see both the existing and new domains and the
computers which are part of those domains.

However, when I attempt to join one of the existing computers to the domain,
I receive an error saying that the domain cannot be found. Since there is no
A record for staff.websitename.com at the hosting provider, I am wondering if
the computer which is attemptimg to join the domain is looking on the
Internet for staff.websitename.com rather than for the PDC which has
staff.websitename.com

First of all, I would not setup an internal network domain name as the same
of the web site domain name. Any errors when using nslookup? Posting the
result of ipconfig /all may help.

--
Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"blinton25" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:6177ECBA-C885-4AB1-A39E-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Literally throwing out the current PDC (arbritrarydomain.com) and
> installing
> a new one.
>
> We currently have a website (websitename.com), which is hosted offsite and
> the new domain I created is called staff.websitename.com. We also have a
> static IP from the ISP.
>
> I created the Active Directory, DNS and DHCP on the new server and when I
> browse the network, I can see both the existing and new domains and the
> computers which are part of those domains.
>
> However, when I attempt to join one of the existing computers to the
> domain,
> I receive an error saying that the domain cannot be found. Since there is
> no
> A record for staff.websitename.com at the hosting provider, I am wondering
> if
> the computer which is attemptimg to join the domain is looking on the
> Internet for staff.websitename.com rather than for the PDC which has
> staff.websitename.com

Hello,

Ok, I can try changing the domain name. However, which machine should I run
nslookup on, the client machine or the new server?

"Robert L. (MS-MVP)" wrote:

> First of all, I would not setup an internal network domain name as the same
> of the web site domain name. Any errors when using nslookup? Posting the
> result of ipconfig /all may help.
>
> --
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
> http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "blinton25" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:6177ECBA-C885-4AB1-A39E-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Literally throwing out the current PDC (arbritrarydomain.com) and
> > installing
> > a new one.
> >
> > We currently have a website (websitename.com), which is hosted offsite and
> > the new domain I created is called staff.websitename.com. We also have a
> > static IP from the ISP.
> >
> > I created the Active Directory, DNS and DHCP on the new server and when I
> > browse the network, I can see both the existing and new domains and the
> > computers which are part of those domains.
> >
> > However, when I attempt to join one of the existing computers to the
> > domain,
> > I receive an error saying that the domain cannot be found. Since there is
> > no
> > A record for staff.websitename.com at the hosting provider, I am wondering
> > if
> > the computer which is attemptimg to join the domain is looking on the
> > Internet for staff.websitename.com rather than for the PDC which has
> > staff.websitename.com
>
>

If you are trying to join a client machine to the new domain, the client
should not be looking at the DNS server at your ISP. It should be looking at
the DNS server on the new DC. All domain members or potential domain members
should be using the LAN IP address of you DC as their DNS server.

Once you have done that, do an nslookup on a client for the new domain
name. If the nslookup returns the IP address of the DC you should be able to
join the domain.

"blinton25" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:6C8DC3B1-DFA1-4E8F-AC36-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hello,
>
> Ok, I can try changing the domain name. However, which machine should I
> run
> nslookup on, the client machine or the new server?
>
> "Robert L. (MS-MVP)" wrote:
>
>> First of all, I would not setup an internal network domain name as the
>> same
>> of the web site domain name. Any errors when using nslookup? Posting the
>> result of ipconfig /all may help.
>>
>> --
>> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
>> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on
>> http://www.ChicagoTech.net
>> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on
>> http://www.HowToNetworking.com
>> "blinton25" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:6177ECBA-C885-4AB1-A39E-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> > Literally throwing out the current PDC (arbritrarydomain.com) and
>> > installing
>> > a new one.
>> >
>> > We currently have a website (websitename.com), which is hosted offsite
>> > and
>> > the new domain I created is called staff.websitename.com. We also have
>> > a
>> > static IP from the ISP.
>> >
>> > I created the Active Directory, DNS and DHCP on the new server and when
>> > I
>> > browse the network, I can see both the existing and new domains and the
>> > computers which are part of those domains.
>> >
>> > However, when I attempt to join one of the existing computers to the
>> > domain,
>> > I receive an error saying that the domain cannot be found. Since there
>> > is
>> > no
>> > A record for staff.websitename.com at the hosting provider, I am
>> > wondering
>> > if
>> > the computer which is attemptimg to join the domain is looking on the
>> > Internet for staff.websitename.com rather than for the PDC which has
>> > staff.websitename.com
>>
>>

Hello blinton25,

If you have problems joining a computer to the new created domain make sure,
that the machine can ping the new DC first. Then make sure the the clients
and also the server do only use domain internal ip configuration, NO external
ip's, like your ISP's DNS server. Please post an unedited ipconfig /all from
the DC/DNS and the problem client.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

> Literally throwing out the current PDC (arbritrarydomain.com) and
> installing a new one.
>
> We currently have a website (websitename.com), which is hosted offsite
> and the new domain I created is called staff.websitename.com. We also
> have a static IP from the ISP.
>
> I created the Active Directory, DNS and DHCP on the new server and
> when I browse the network, I can see both the existing and new domains
> and the computers which are part of those domains.
>
> However, when I attempt to join one of the existing computers to the
> domain, I receive an error saying that the domain cannot be found.
> Since there is no A record for staff.websitename.com at the hosting
> provider, I am wondering if the computer which is attemptimg to join
> the domain is looking on the Internet for staff.websitename.com
> rather than for the PDC which has staff.websitename.com
>

Another note, both the old and new PDC use the same IP ranges, old server is
192.168.1.2 and the new one is 192.168.1.60, and both servers DHCP in the
range 192.168.1.10 - 192.168.1.90

"Meinolf Weber" wrote:

> Hello blinton25,
>
> If you have problems joining a computer to the new created domain make sure,
> that the machine can ping the new DC first. Then make sure the the clients
> and also the server do only use domain internal ip configuration, NO external
> ip's, like your ISP's DNS server. Please post an unedited ipconfig /all from
> the DC/DNS and the problem client.
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> no rights.
> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>
> > Literally throwing out the current PDC (arbritrarydomain.com) and
> > installing a new one.
> >
> > We currently have a website (websitename.com), which is hosted offsite
> > and the new domain I created is called staff.websitename.com. We also
> > have a static IP from the ISP.
> >
> > I created the Active Directory, DNS and DHCP on the new server and
> > when I browse the network, I can see both the existing and new domains
> > and the computers which are part of those domains.
> >
> > However, when I attempt to join one of the existing computers to the
> > domain, I receive an error saying that the domain cannot be found.
> > Since there is no A record for staff.websitename.com at the hosting
> > provider, I am wondering if the computer which is attemptimg to join
> > the domain is looking on the Internet for staff.websitename.com
> > rather than for the PDC which has staff.websitename.com
> >
>
>
>

Hello,

Thanks, I got it to work.

I tried pointing the client machine DNS to the new PDC, but still was unable
to locate the domain. Nslookup was also returning an error.

I then read:
http://www.computerperformance.co.uk...tall_zones.htm

and realised that I had manually setup my DNS server, rather than having it
done automatically as was suggested. So I deleted the Active Directory,
recreated it and this time allowed the dns server to be created
automatically.

After that I pointed to the DNS server from the client machine, and was able
to join successfully.

Thanks again.


"blinton25" wrote:

> Another note, both the old and new PDC use the same IP ranges, old server is
> 192.168.1.2 and the new one is 192.168.1.60, and both servers DHCP in the
> range 192.168.1.10 - 192.168.1.90
>
> "Meinolf Weber" wrote:
>
> > Hello blinton25,
> >
> > If you have problems joining a computer to the new created domain make sure,
> > that the machine can ping the new DC first. Then make sure the the clients
> > and also the server do only use domain internal ip configuration, NO external
> > ip's, like your ISP's DNS server. Please post an unedited ipconfig /all from
> > the DC/DNS and the problem client.
> >
> > Best regards
> >
> > Meinolf Weber
> > Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> > no rights.
> > ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
> > ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
> >
> > > Literally throwing out the current PDC (arbritrarydomain.com) and
> > > installing a new one.
> > >
> > > We currently have a website (websitename.com), which is hosted offsite
> > > and the new domain I created is called staff.websitename.com. We also
> > > have a static IP from the ISP.
> > >
> > > I created the Active Directory, DNS and DHCP on the new server and
> > > when I browse the network, I can see both the existing and new domains
> > > and the computers which are part of those domains.
> > >
> > > However, when I attempt to join one of the existing computers to the
> > > domain, I receive an error saying that the domain cannot be found.
> > > Since there is no A record for staff.websitename.com at the hosting
> > > provider, I am wondering if the computer which is attemptimg to join
> > > the domain is looking on the Internet for staff.websitename.com
> > > rather than for the PDC which has staff.websitename.com
> > >
> >
> >
> >

Hello blinton25,

Thanks for the feedback. Nice to hear that you get it running.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

> Hello,
>
> Thanks, I got it to work.
>
> I tried pointing the client machine DNS to the new PDC, but still was
> unable to locate the domain. Nslookup was also returning an error.
>
> I then read:
> http://www.computerperformance.co.uk...nstall_zones.h
> tm
> and realised that I had manually setup my DNS server, rather than
> having it done automatically as was suggested. So I deleted the Active
> Directory, recreated it and this time allowed the dns server to be
> created automatically.
>
> After that I pointed to the DNS server from the client machine, and
> was able to join successfully.
>
> Thanks again.
>
> "blinton25" wrote:
>
>> Another note, both the old and new PDC use the same IP ranges, old
>> server is 192.168.1.2 and the new one is 192.168.1.60, and both
>> servers DHCP in the range 192.168.1.10 - 192.168.1.90
>>
>> "Meinolf Weber" wrote:
>>
>>> Hello blinton25,
>>>
>>> If you have problems joining a computer to the new created domain
>>> make sure, that the machine can ping the new DC first. Then make
>>> sure the the clients and also the server do only use domain internal
>>> ip configuration, NO external ip's, like your ISP's DNS server.
>>> Please post an unedited ipconfig /all from the DC/DNS and the
>>> problem client.
>>>
>>> Best regards
>>>
>>> Meinolf Weber
>>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>>> confers
>>> no rights.
>>> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>>> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>>>> Literally throwing out the current PDC (arbritrarydomain.com) and
>>>> installing a new one.
>>>>
>>>> We currently have a website (websitename.com), which is hosted
>>>> offsite and the new domain I created is called
>>>> staff.websitename.com. We also have a static IP from the ISP.
>>>>
>>>> I created the Active Directory, DNS and DHCP on the new server and
>>>> when I browse the network, I can see both the existing and new
>>>> domains and the computers which are part of those domains.
>>>>
>>>> However, when I attempt to join one of the existing computers to
>>>> the domain, I receive an error saying that the domain cannot be
>>>> found. Since there is no A record for staff.websitename.com at the
>>>> hosting provider, I am wondering if the computer which is
>>>> attemptimg to join the domain is looking on the Internet for
>>>> staff.websitename.com rather than for the PDC which has
>>>> staff.websitename.com
>>>>