Workstations can't see servers that the DNS/DHCP server can

I've got a problem and I'm not sure what I've missed. There is a
server in one of our remote offices that I cannot reach from my
workstation through Windows Explorer when using it's name. (ie
\\Remote) However, I can reach it by name from my office's local
Domain Controller as administrator or from the head office's DC. I can
access from my workstation if I use the IP address.

If I do an NSLOOKUP from my workstation, my local DC replies as the
DNS host and the remote server is found.

By access, I mean that I want to see the available file shares and
printers on the server.

Anyone have any suggestions as to what I should be looking at? More
info needed?

Marten

(If I've put this in the wrong group, my apologies. Could you net
direct me to a more appropriate group?)

Marten wrote:
> I've got a problem and I'm not sure what I've missed. There is a
> server in one of our remote offices that I cannot reach from my
> workstation through Windows Explorer when using it's name. (ie
> \\Remote) However, I can reach it by name from my office's local
> Domain Controller as administrator or from the head office's DC. I can
> access from my workstation if I use the IP address.
>
> If I do an NSLOOKUP from my workstation, my local DC replies as the
> DNS host and the remote server is found.

So it probably isn't a DNS config problem if your local DNS server gives
the right response.

Has the IP address of the remote server changed recently? Could your
machine be caching an old IP address perhaps? Try ipconfig /flushdns and
then try connecting again using the name.

--
Chris.

Hello Marten,

How is the remote network connected? Please describe your network configuration.
Also post an unedited ipconfig /all from the DC, the client and the remote
server.

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


> I've got a problem and I'm not sure what I've missed. There is a
> server in one of our remote offices that I cannot reach from my
> workstation through Windows Explorer when using it's name. (ie
> \\Remote) However, I can reach it by name from my office's local
> Domain Controller as administrator or from the head office's DC. I can
> access from my workstation if I use the IP address.
>
> If I do an NSLOOKUP from my workstation, my local DC replies as the
> DNS host and the remote server is found.
>
> By access, I mean that I want to see the available file shares and
> printers on the server.
>
> Anyone have any suggestions as to what I should be looking at? More
> info needed?
>
> Marten
>
> (If I've put this in the wrong group, my apologies. Could you net
> direct me to a more appropriate group?)
>

as requested:

We have an ISP maintained VPN (MPLS) for our main offices. The ISP
controls those routers. The head office is has a 30mb/s connection,
and the other regional offices are on 10mb/s. There are two remote
offices that the ISP could not supply service to that use local VPN
routers to connect to a router controlled by us inside the MPLS. It
has a specific external IP address being forwarded to it. Both of
these external sites are on Business DSL services. I'm having no
issues with the other site.

Each office has it's own IP range: 10.10.0.x, 10.20.0.x, etc

Between the remote site and this router, there are two tunnels
defined. One to the head office network and one to my office network.

The servers are Windows 2003 Standard. I did have a SBS2003 in this
office but it has been replaced with 2003 Standard.

ipconfig /all for:

Local DC
========
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : wpg-svr-dc1
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : mcw.com
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mcw.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : HP NC7781 Gigabit Server
Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-C2-5B-D0-0F
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.11
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.40
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.11
10.10.0.5

Local Workstation
==============
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : wpgaccdaccting
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : mcw.com
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mcw.com
mcw.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mcw.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8169/8110
Family Gigabit
Ethernet NIC
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-2A-9E-A9-A8
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.172
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.6
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.11
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.11
10.10.0.5
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : September 21, 2008 5:20:11
AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : September 24, 2008 5:20:11
AM

Head Office DC
============
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : tor-svr-dc1
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : mcw.com
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mcw.com

PPP adapter RAS Server (Dial In) Interface:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-53-45-00-00-00
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.0.60
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : HP NC7781 Gigabit Server
Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-C2-59-41-12
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.0.5
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.0.45
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.0.5
10.10.0.13
NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Remote Site DC
=============
Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : dau-svr-dc1
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : mcw.com
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mcw.com

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 EB Network
Connection w
ith I/O Acceleration
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-15-17-18-3D-54
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.70.0.10
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.70.0.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.70.0.10
10.10.0.5


A couple of extra curiousities.
1) A nslookup from my workstation gives my local DC as the DNS
server. A nslookup from the local DC gives the head office as the
server.
2) If I try to do a Remote Desktop Connection from my desktop to the
remote server, it connects, displays the remote desktop and then I
can't do anything else inside that session. If I RDC to the head
office server and then RDC to the remote office, I can work there
fine.

Any more info needed?

Marten


On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:40:07 +0000 (UTC), Meinolf Weber
<meiweb(nospam)@gmx.de> wrote:

>Hello Marten,
>
>How is the remote network connected? Please describe your network configuration.
>Also post an unedited ipconfig /all from the DC, the client and the remote
>server.
>
>Best regards
>

Hello Marten,

Browsing over subnets needs a WINS server.

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


> as requested:
>
> We have an ISP maintained VPN (MPLS) for our main offices. The ISP
> controls those routers. The head office is has a 30mb/s connection,
> and the other regional offices are on 10mb/s. There are two remote
> offices that the ISP could not supply service to that use local VPN
> routers to connect to a router controlled by us inside the MPLS. It
> has a specific external IP address being forwarded to it. Both of
> these external sites are on Business DSL services. I'm having no
> issues with the other site.
>
> Each office has it's own IP range: 10.10.0.x, 10.20.0.x, etc
>
> Between the remote site and this router, there are two tunnels
> defined. One to the head office network and one to my office network.
>
> The servers are Windows 2003 Standard. I did have a SBS2003 in this
> office but it has been replaced with 2003 Standard.
>
> ipconfig /all for:
>
> Local DC
> ========
> Windows IP Configuration
> Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : wpg-svr-dc1
> Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : mcw.com
> Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
> IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
> WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
> DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mcw.com
> Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
>
> Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
> Description . . . . . . . . . . . : HP NC7781 Gigabit Server
> Adapter
> Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-C2-5B-D0-0F
> DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
> IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.11
> Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
> Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.40
> DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.11
> 10.10.0.5
> Local Workstation
> ==============
> Windows IP Configuration
> Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : wpgaccdaccting
> Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : mcw.com
> Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
> IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
> WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
> DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mcw.com
> mcw.com
> Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
>
> Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : mcw.com
> Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8169/8110
> Family Gigabit
> Ethernet NIC
> Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-2A-9E-A9-A8
> Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
> Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
> IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.172
> Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
> Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.6
> DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.11
> DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.20.0.11
> 10.10.0.5
> Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : September 21, 2008 5:20:11
> AM
> Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : September 24, 2008 5:20:11
> AM
> Head Office DC
> ============
> Windows IP Configuration
> Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : tor-svr-dc1
> Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : mcw.com
> Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
> IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
> WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
> DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mcw.com
> PPP adapter RAS Server (Dial In) Interface:
>
> Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
> Description . . . . . . . . . . . : WAN (PPP/SLIP) Interface
> Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-53-45-00-00-00
> DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
> IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.0.60
> Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.255
> Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
> Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
>
> Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
> Description . . . . . . . . . . . : HP NC7781 Gigabit Server
> Adapter
> Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-14-C2-59-41-12
> DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
> IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.0.5
> Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
> Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.0.45
> DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.10.0.5
> 10.10.0.13
> NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled
> Remote Site DC
> =============
> Windows IP Configuration
> Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : dau-svr-dc1
> Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : mcw.com
> Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
> IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
> WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
> DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : mcw.com
> Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
>
> Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
> Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 EB Network
> Connection w
> ith I/O Acceleration
> Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-15-17-18-3D-54
> DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
> IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.70.0.10
> Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
> Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 10.70.0.1
> DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.70.0.10
> 10.10.0.5
> A couple of extra curiousities.
> 1) A nslookup from my workstation gives my local DC as the DNS
> server. A nslookup from the local DC gives the head office as the
> server.
> 2) If I try to do a Remote Desktop Connection from my desktop to the
> remote server, it connects, displays the remote desktop and then I
> can't do anything else inside that session. If I RDC to the head
> office server and then RDC to the remote office, I can work there
> fine.
> Any more info needed?
>
> Marten
>
> On Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:40:07 +0000 (UTC), Meinolf Weber
> <meiweb(nospam)@gmx.de> wrote:
>
>> Hello Marten,
>>
>> How is the remote network connected? Please describe your network
>> configuration. Also post an unedited ipconfig /all from the DC, the
>> client and the remote server.
>>
>> Best regards
>>