I am attempting to set up an office using a Win2003 Server as a data server. There is no DNS as the program the server hosts can host the data. Unfortunately, I'm unable to point computers that come and go from the office to the server without altering the hosts file. If I change the hosts file I can point them locally, but obviously, once they are away from the LAN, they no longer connect. Remote users that don't bring PCs into the LAN don't have the issue either. I'm worried about those who need to come and go with laptops and want to connect wherever they are. I keep finding this term: forward lookup zone, which is apparently the fix but I don't know where to start. Can I purchase a router that will accomplish this or must I configure the server in some special way? Note: the data is hosted on the server but computers are routed to the program's off-site servers and then routed back locally.

Forward lookup is related to DNS but you said that there is no DNS. I didn't understand that sentence.

Host file is not usually a good solution. Might setup a wins server before you setup a dns. ?? dunno "Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, are in my top 10

Thanks for the responses. I won't actually be setting up DNS at all. It is my understanding that forward lookup zones are used with DNS but no DNS will be applied in this environment. I'm not content with the host file solution. How would I go about setting up a wins server?

Kind of depends on if you are running a domain but start with help and support pages in server for wins. I think the configure my server has that as a choice. "Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, are in my top 10