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Windows 2K Server DNS DUMMY question

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5 replies

by ryanfranklin

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Ok, here's the deal. I just recently talked my
Dad into buying win 2k server for his office,
with the idea of switching all of the outsourced
web hosting to this server. Let me tell you our
network setup first of all:

1 Win2K server (using active directory)
2 static IP addresses (provided by Cox)
3 on-site windows xp machines.

Here is what I need to do. This Win2K
machine will not only do all of our web
hosting, but it will be our internal office file/
app/printer server as well.

I basically need to know if this can be done,
and if so, what does my DNS setup need to
be. I am TOTALLY lost as far as internal/
external DNS setup goes, Is there a way to
use set up the two static IP's I was given by
cox as dns addresses w/ my domain
registrar?

I just NEED HELP!!!

-thx

5 replies

by quintar51

I have a similar setup. I only have 1 w2k server with active directory, and I also have my own (crappy) website.

The way I setup my DNS is as follows: When you first install DNS, just create a forward lookup zone with the domain name you registered. ie, company.com.

If you right-click on the zone and go to properties, zone transfer tab, uncheck 'transfer to any server'. Select 'transfer to name servers only.

Then, right-click on the server object, go to forwarders, type in the DNSservers of your ISP. Check off 'do not use recursion'.

After that, you're ready to install Active Directory. It's going to be a new forest, new tree, new domain. If active directory prompts you, chose to configure DNS yourself, don't let AD do it, as it might make itself a root server.

Once the promotion is successful, I would then setup and configure IIS.

I only have my static IP registered with my domain registrar. In my network, all addresses are internal.

In your situation, if you already have AD setup, then you might need to demote the server and uninstall DNs, delete the c:\winnt\system32\DNS folder, and reinstall DNS to start off fresh.

BTW, this was a pain for me too first time I did it.

Hopefully thiswill go smoothly for you.

good luck,

by natem

Your ISP 'cox' will probably host your domain for what you are already paying, (otherwise go to domains.yahoo.com) Contact them and find out what you need to do to get your domain record on their DNS servers, an 'A' or 'host' record to www.yourdomainname.com will work just fine. (Unless you also want to host your own mail server.)

Install IIS on your server through Add/Remove programs - Components (hint: Only install what you need. If you don't need the ftp or the admin site, don't install it.) Run IIS Lockdown from Microsoft, and make sure you're up to date on security patches. Make sure your virus scanner is up to date and ready to roll, I've had exceptionally good luck with McAfee Netshield.

Log on to your firewall (cable/dsl router) and forward port 80 to your servers ip address. DO NOT OPEN YOUR FIREWALL TILL THE SERVER IS PREPARED!

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