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Dan PurcellFlag for United States of America

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Printing Problems with a new Windows 2003 network

I recently have migrated a small print shop from a workgroup to a Windows 2003 domain. It work great for a week then I found out that the zone I picked for my DNS server was the same name we have for our website. (purcellprinting.com) I tried an alas to no avail.  I then tried to uninstall my DNS and reinstall it. I think that has caused some problems. My login time has increased and I’m having printer problems. My computers lock up at times when trying to print. I get that “not responding” message. My server names is purcellprinting.purcellprint.local. I named my DNS zone zone.pprint.com. Is that a problem? Plus I’m not sure I correctly reinstalled the DNS. To make matters worst I’m not totally sure it’s the DNS but my troubles started soon after that. Thanks for your help; this is a wonderful site!


Dan P
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Yan_west

You could have solved this easily btw.. you only had to add an A record poiting to your external website IP, and it would have solved your problem..

Once you created a DOMAIN, and assigned your DC for this domain,  it is not recommended to change the domain name.. in any case, check this application:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/downloads/domainrename.mspx
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I'm a little confussed. You think I need to change my domain name? Woulsnt it be easier to change my DNS and use the A record?
Of course.. I tought you changed your entire domain name btw :) Just switch back your dns and put an A record.. that's the most simple thing :)
I changed my DNS back to zone.purcellprinting.com and my A record is (same as parent) and I put in my server's IP address. Is that correct? As of this moment I can see our website.

Thanks for your help
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Yan_west

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I’m slightly confused. My server name is purcellprinting.purcellprint.local. I’m not sure why I had problems getting to our website. I basically put in the same info and I can get to my site now. What did you mean by you have to add up a www A record. Right now my Host is blank and says (same as parent folder) and my fully qualified domain name (FQDN) is zone.purcellprinting.com. My address IP is the same as my server IP (192.168.1.121) The last item is an unchecked box that says update associated partner (PTR) record. Should I delete this A record and change it to something else? When I created this as I tried typing in info it just added it to the front of the domain name, example: if I type in durrrrrr it would add durrrrr.zone.purcellprinting.com in the FQDN. I’m still locking up with my printers thought
I think I just came up with part of my problem. I'm guessing I dont want the IP on my A to be the same as my sever
When your local domain name is the same as your external domain name, it is normal you cannot access your external website because the request to go on it will remain in your lan. That is why you must go to your foward lookup zone in your DNS admin, and create a new "A" Record. since the name of the machine on the website is WWW, you have to name it WWW, and for the fqdn type www.blabla.com. then, when you will be asking for the website, the DNS will tell you that the address is not in the lan, but at this "X.X.X.X" external address. Then the request will work.
Hey Yan:

yes? :)
Hey Yan:
I'm still having printer problems. I'm wondering if they are nor DNS related. I've got 4 printservers (For our Xerox copiers) and after I boot up they work find, but after awhile I lose them. Also after I boot up I can go to install printers, browse for network printers and it can't find them. Any idea whats up. In MY Network Places I can see the print servers but can't connect to them
Yes, this was a printing problem from the start right? Lol, you didnt mention it in the definition of your problem!

Check out in the event viewer if there is anything related to your printer when they stop working.. any errors? Need event ID and source.
Event viewer on PC or Server? Also from the 2003 server I can see and use the other print servers
I found a 5781 error on the server related to DNS
Also on my XP Pro my event viewer gave me a 15 and 1054, both seem DNS related
15 and 1054 are not dns related.. You always need to give the source field along with the event id # btw..

there is about 40 different error messages for event id 15 :)
On 15 it is AutoEnrollment and 1054 is Event_Failed_DSname
I looked at the link and it makes my head spin!
event 15 then points to: The specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted. Enrollment will not be performed.
1054 is not even documented
and 5781 DNS records failed because no DNS servers are available

Something is really messed up my friend ;)

Everything point to your domain being not recognized.. You know what, why don't you reinstall everything from scratch? can you afford doing that?
I'm depressed. I sure it has to do with my DNS. I was fine untill I messed with that. When I reboot my computer it works fine with seeing the printers and printing, but after a period of time it can't find it!
Be always very carefull of DNS when you mess around with a 2000 Domain, it is the heart of your network.

How do I install and configure Windows 2000 DNS server?

http://www.petri.co.il/install_and_configure_w2k_dns_server.htm


How do I install and configure a new Windows 2000 DNS server to prepare for a new AD Domain?

http://www.petri.co.il/create_a_new_dns_server_for_ad.htm