asked on

Cannot find domain server or domain server is not active

Small 2003 SBS network... (10 machines)... Recently when I get in on some mornings I and a number of other users get an error message when trying to log in... That says "Cannot find the doamin server or the account is not one on this server if the condition persists contact your system adminstrator" Well I am the system admin and I have no clue as to why it's doing this... The only workaround that seems to work reliably every time is to log on to the PC natively (not into the domain) and then go into IE and connect to the Domain controler... via it's IP address. then log out and log back onto the domain and Voila.. you're in like Flynn.. Anyone out there have any ideas as to what may be going on.... I'll be liberal in handing out points...

Thanks

Zach

Saineolai

Could there be a delay in the PC getting an IP address from DHCP, or an issue with your name resolution. How long is the PC on before you log in? Posting an IPconfig /all of a problem PC might help diagnose.

zrlittle

ASKER

Here it is... the other odd part about this is that the problem is intermittent... i rebooted this same PC an hour ago and it came up like a champ....

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : ZachsPC
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : Tangentusa.local
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcast
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : Tangentusa.local
wp.comcast.net

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : wp.comcast.net
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VIA Rhine II Fast Ethernet Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-E0-4C-B4-38-D9
Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.140
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.87.72.130
68.87.77.130
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Monday, July 17, 2006 2:23:07 PM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, July 24, 2006 2:23:07 PM

Saineolai

The SBS Server should be the DNS server for the PC with no external DNS servers listed. Then the SBS server should be configured to handle the external name resolution.

Is the 192.168.1.254 a local DSL router assigning DHCP addresses? You should instead use the SBS Server to assign the DHCP addresses so all the correct options will be specified.

zrlittle

ASKER

When i change the DNS server to point to my SBS server ceartain websites do not come up as themselves for example yahoo.com comes up as Register.com (who just happens to be who MY internet web site is hosted through). What values does SBS set from a DHCP point that my cable modem router isn't setting... I occasionally have non employees who need to use the internet and I prefer to have cable modem provide DHCP than to allow them guest acess through my server.

Saineolai

Have a look at this document http://support.microsoft.com/kb/825763

I am assuming you have only one network card in your SBS server so check the section Internal or single network adapter configuration. Particularly point 2 as I believe this is where your problem now lies.

Jeffrey Kane - TechSoEasy

Your Network configuration is entirely wrong. You must use SBS as your DNS server. If you are having strange websites come up wrong, then you have something wrong in the SBS configuration. Please post that IPCONFIG /ALL for review.

Jeff
TechSoEasy

zrlittle

ASKER

IPConfig for SBS Server

Windows IP Configuration

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : tangent1
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : Tangentusa.local
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : Tangentusa.local

Ethernet adapter Server Local Area Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT Network Connection
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-C0-9F-38-11-A0
DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.50
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.254
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 68.87.66.196

zrlittle

ASKER

Had the problem again this morning... no matter what changes I made I couldn't log on... eventually rebooted the server and then was able to log on...

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Saineolai

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SOLUTION

Jeffrey Kane - TechSoEasy

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