I searched out almost all knowledged base in Microsoft's Support. I've spent 2 weeks to cope with this problem but i am still fail. Please kindly help me. I have one domain controller (DC1) of "abc.local" domain. DNS is installed in "primary zone". IP: 192.168.1.18 Subnet: 255.255.255.0 Primary DNS: 192.168.1.18 Gateway: 192.168.1.1 Win2000 + SP2 + SP2SRP1 I newly installed another 2 Win2k servers, "DC2" and "DC3", with SP2 + SP2SRP1 and SP3 respectively. I used "DcPromo" on these two servers to be the two additional domain controllers, but following message is got: -- Start of Error Message -- The domain "ABC" is not an Active Directory domain, or an Active Directory domain controller for the domain could not be contacted. -- End of Error Message -- The ipconfig of DC2 and DC3: IP: 192.168.1.17 / 192.168.41.16 Subnet: 255.255.255.0 Gateway: 192.168.1.1 Primary DNS: 192.168.1.18 Can anybody please kindly help me?? It consumed me 2 weeks already, I am very frustrated now. Many thanks. A.H.

I would remove the gateway address on DC1. Make sure that DHCP is authorized. On DC2 and DC3, Try just setting them up as member servers first. Can you join them to the domain when you do that? DC3 has an address from another subnet.

Dear Dude, No. I tried to set both DC2 and DC3 to join the domain but failed. I also tried to set a Win2000 Professional to join the domain too, but this error message is got: The Domain "ABC" is either invalid or does not exist. The DC3's IP address was typed wrongly, it should be in the same subnet as well as DC1 and DC2. Would you please kindly give me any hint to cope with it? Really appreciate so mcuh, A.H.

Based on the available information I'd say you have a problem with your DNS setup. Don't ask me for more information though because without sitting down at your DC I couldn't begin to try to figure out the problem beyond that general statement. You have to find out what's wrong with your DNS and make it right.

Yes, I also think the problem coming from the "DNS". I've re-formated the disk for fresh installation of Win2000 Server for 4 times. I tried different combination/configuration of the "DNS" and "Domain Name". However, all of them having the same problem eventually. I tried: 1. Full Domain Name: "ABC" 2. Full Domain Name: "ABC.local" 3. DNS: Run on the first DC (DC1) before DcPromo, and set "Yes" for Dynamic Update 4. DNS: Add "." (root.dns) at the Forward Lookup Zone Now, I am doing a frest installation again - my 5th installation within these 10 days, in order that I hope to prevent any careless mistake. Appreciate so much if you can help this frustrated man. A.H. :(

I fixed the problem in my fifth trial!!!! I made following changes in the DC1: A. No gateway's address B. After setting up the DNS Server, the "Primary DNS suffix of this computer" is set to be "abc.local". Thus, this DC1 will register itself to his own DNS Server as dc1.abc.local (if don't set this DNS Suffic manually, the DNS self-registration will be "dc1" only). C. A scope for DHCP is authorized. (A superscope is also set but this should be optional) D. Run "DcDiag", it shows me "Pass" to run DcPromo Then, after running DcPromo, only two errors in event logs, and I did: i) Authorize the DHCP Server & the scope ii) Set W32 time After rebooted, these two errors disappeared. And, the DNS Server will be changed from "Primary Zone" to "Active-directory Intergated" automatically. Since the DC2 does not require to change any thing in its ipconfig EXCEPT: 1. Remove gateway address 2. Run "Dcdiag" to get a "Pass" in testing 3. Run DcPromo --> No More Error Message of "The ABC is not an active directory domain, or an active directory domain controller for the domain could not be contacted" As this problem wasted me 10 days already, I am very lucky to cope with it eventually. Curt and Dude, many thanks. A.H.