Since you are just starting out with AD and DNS, let me encourage you to get familiar with the MS DNS Center: http://www.microsoft.com/Windows2000/technologies/communications/dns/default. asp Spend a day with the White Paper here: http://download.microsoft.com/download/f/2/f/f2fc9f59-d90a-4dbc-8382-793c88b0 b0d2/w2kdns.doc This webcast is helpful, too (get both the powerpoint and the transcript) http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=/servicedesks/webcasts/wc09120 0/wcblurb091200.asp You will be the better for it. Now, to answer your question specifically, nslookup is the primary tool you are looking for. You can use it to find out if your DNS server is able to get third-party records for your clients like so: Configure a client computer to use your DNS server for resolution by putting your DNS server's IP in the primary Name Server field of your clients TCP/IP properties. After that, do the following on the client: from a cmd prompt, type nslookup and press enter then type www.yahoo.com (or some other third-party address) and press enter You should now see the IP address of www.yahoo.com on the cmd prompt You can use nslookup to find out if other DNS server can see the records you have created in the zone on your own DNS Server, like so: 1. from a cmd prompt, type nslookup and press enter type server ns1.cisco.com and press enter type set q=ns and press enter now type in one of the record you have created in your zone (you can also just type in the zone name) and press enter You should now see the name and IP address of your DNS server What the above does is just ask one of cisco's Name Servers if it can find the name and IP of your own DNS server 2. from a cmd prompt, type nslookup and press enter type server ns1.cisco.com and press enter now type in one of the record you have created in your zone and press enter You should now see the name and IP address of the record What the above does is just ask one of cisco's Name Servers if it can contact your DNS server and ask for a record. Also, if you just type nslookup /? at the command prompt, you will see more info on using nslookup. Play with them to get a feel for it. Don't worry, you will discover more interesting ways/tools to troubleshoot DNS. Sincerely,
Dèjì Akómöláfé, MCSE+M MCSA+M MCP+I Microsoft MVP - Directory Services www.readymaids.com - we know IT www.akomolafe.com Do you now realize that Today is the Tomorrow you were worried about Yesterday? -anon ________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tue 2/15/2005 11:52 AM To: ActiveDir@mail.activedir.org Subject: [ActiveDir] DNS verification How can I verify that my DNS server is configured correctly? Rob List info : http://www.activedir.org/List.aspx List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/ListFAQ.aspx List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/ List info : http://www.activedir.org/List.aspx List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/ListFAQ.aspx List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/
