DNS question I have a question regarding internal and external namespaces for win2k's DNS setup. I am trying to set up a home network and am planning my *little* DNS namespace I have heard its better to separate the internal and external namespaces. One of the reasons given is that if you use your public namespace on your internal DNS network then there could be a problem with internal clients being able to resolve internet names. But I don't understand why?? If I used a public namespace internally and used DNS forwarders to point to my ISP's DNS servers, why wouldn't my internal clients be able to resolve external names ? Thanks!

I think!!!!! (please correct me if im wrong) If you set up your local ip addresses first (or let it do automatic) then a setting of 0.0.0.0 to forward to your ISP's DNS. This way i think your machine acts like a router or needs to be set up like that to do NAT to the internet.

small networks gain nothing from having their own dns as there is nothing to resolve internally, unless you just want to play around and learn dns. dns servers talk to all other dns servers world wide, if your not carefull you will be sending out junk packets advertising your dns server to the world.

A lot of speculation going on here. Tom, I think you may have a few terms mixed up. And Rick, small networks do gain from DNS especially if as Skinsfan and you mention, you are setting up a test network. And if you are installing Active Directory, DNS is required. You DNS server will not share it's information with other DNS server if you do not have zone transfers enabled, which for this discussion, you shouldn't. Skinsfan, sounds like you got some good information. Generally you will use your internal name internally and use it for your clients to connect to. You DNS server will run on a W2k server to serve your AD. It will not, nor would you want it to be an Internet DNS server. Likewise, you would not want your ISP to know about your AD domain. Configure your AD DNS server to Forward to you IPSs server for DNS resolution and you should be all set. All clients should point to your AD DNS server.