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Coopercentral

New member
Joined
Jul 12, 2011
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3
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USA
Hi:

I don't know if this question is a simple one, but I have spend the past whole day searching for an answer which I could not. Basically, my problem is this. I have Windows 2008 Server, and this is a home environment. I am doing this for centralized control, and network storage space. Anyways, here's the issue. The ONLY way I can connect my laptop to join the domain is to set the clients primary DNS server to the IP of the server itself. When I do this, and go to Computer -> change from workgroup to Domain and put the domain name, it will pop up with username/password. If it is set as automatically assign the DNS, it will say the Domain cannot be contacted.

Whenever I use my laptop away from home, it won't connect to the internet because of the DNS server. Basically it's a pain to keep going back and making it automatic for when not at home, and then assign it when at home. Is there any way possible to make it so the DNS can be automatic in our home network environment? I did setup DHCP server on the domain as well. It currently has AD, DNS, and DHCP installed.

Thanks so much for any help you can give me!
 
You can use an easier way:

go to C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\ and open the file HOSTS. Add the following line at the end:

IP_DOMAIN_CONTROLLER YOUR.DOMAIN.WHATEVER

Retry :)
 
Thanks so much for the reply. I actually tried that, and it still didn't work. Again, just to clarify, my laptop (when connected our wifi network) is able to see the server/domain on the Networks page. It can ping the server itself, but not the domain. As SOON as I put the preferred DNS in the wireless NIC TCP/IP properties as the IP of the domain, it will then allow me to ping the domain, AND a username/password box will popup asking to join the domain. But again if the DNS is not there, it will not let me.

I did try the HOSTS thing. The IP specified for the domain is 192.168.1.105....my domain itself is called cooper.domain. Therefore, the hosts file line addition would look like this:

192.168.1.105 cooper.domain

It then obviously allowed me to ping the cooper.domain AD, but it would not let me join it. I will try it again. Is there any other thing that should be done for this? Thanks again!!!

-EDIT-

I just tried the HOSTS file again, and still nothing. When I put the domain in, normally you would have a username/password box popup. It doesn't, and says it cannot locate the domain.
 
You must configure a SCOPE on your DHCP for option 6 and 15 this will give yours clients DNS config and (with option 15) domain name.

Let me know.
 
Thank you SOOO much ICTCity!!! I configured a scope before, but must have overlooked the option for entering the router gateway. I now have the laptop configured both IP/DNS automatically, and can see the domain. Thanks again I appreciate it very much!!!

-Ken
 
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