Can't join domain

[Hesham11]

hi..i am using workstation 9.0 trying to add xp machine to my domain on server 2003 all attempts were to no avail,using static or dhcp doesn't matter always  prompting domain could not be contacted, i can ping between both machines no problem and i disabled firewalls...seems to be dns problem but am not quite sure how to fix that as am still new to all of this.

would appreciate it if someone could shed some light.

[AWo]

Welcome to the forums!

Can you map a drive on a domain member server or the domain controller itself? Does it prompt you for logon credentials?

Check your DNS setting on the system you want to join to the domain. Does it use the domain DNS server?

AWo

[Hesham11]

hi...thanks for reply, no i didn't try to map  drive yet and it doesn't prompt me any login credentials...it prompts a msg saying a domain controller for the domain [name] could not be contacted,ensure that the domain name is typed correctly...about the dns settings yes i typed in the server's ip address.and i installed the dnsmgmt in forward lookup zone it says status: running not sure if it has anything to do with what i am trying.

[Scorpion99]

In the computer which you are tyring to join the domain, go to CMD and execute this:

nslookup yourdomainname.local

and tell us what are the results.

[Hesham11]

dns request timed out

can't find server's name for address 192.168.1.21

server unknown

do i have to name the domain in a specific way? does it have to be .local or no? i named it yahoo.com...typed nslookup yahoo.com.local that was the result sorry for the stupid question

[AWo]

Active Directory doesn't work without DNS. If you have an AD running, you have a DNS running. Put the DNS server IP address into the IP configuration of the host in question.

AWo

[Linjo]

I think you first need to study some basics about DNS, here is a good guide:

http://compnetworking.about.com/od/dns_domainnamesystem/a/introduction-to-dns_domain-name-system.htm

// Linjo

[Hesham11]

i did type in the preferred dns server on the xp machine

[Linjo]

Can you run the command "ipconfig /all" in a command-promt from all 3 machines involved (XP, Win7, Win2003) and post it here?

// Linjo

[Hesham11]

thanks for the link linjo, i do understand dns, am quite sure all my settings are configured the way  it should be am downloading a program to upload pics.

[Hesham11]

what win7? there is only xp and server 2003

[Linjo]

No need to download any program, just cut and paste the output to a text-file and attach here.

// Linjo

[Hesham11]

pics

[Hesham11]

the dns on xp should be 192.168.1.21 my bad still it doesn't work

[schepp]

You got 1 XP, 1 2003 Server and use 3 different Ip Adresses.

In one pic you use 1.21 (in the cmd windows, not in the configuration window) as DNS server, in the other one you use 1.85.

And who is using the IP 192.168.1.85 ?

[Hesham11]

the .85 is the ip i assigned for the dns server, don't know how it shows .21 in command prompt:smileyconfused:

[Scorpion99]

I advise you to check your DHCP configuration and see what is the DNS IP there.
If you can post us a screenshot about it. Which VMnet are you using?

[Hesham11]

did a fresh server installation this is why domain name and ips changed, i am using vmnet 5 host-only both machines are able to ping.

[Linjo]

In the screenshot you have the DNS in your scope on 192.168.1.40.

Is it actually there? Have you installed and configured the DNS-server? (Its not enough to specify it in the scope)

[louyo]

PMJI: You might want to try using Netbios and an lmhosts file  See:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/180094

Lou