Hi, Pls help me, In my office network, I have a domain (MYDOMAIN) with 2 DC, say DC1 and DC2 (Win2000 Adv Server SP4 both) + 20 Clients (win2000 prof, mostly SP3). I used DC1 from the very beginning, installed and made DC2 newly. In DC2, all user accounts are showing or all are transfered from DC1 to DC2 during its installation as an additional DC. DC1 is a DNS too. When DC1 is down, I could not login to MYDOMAIN from client systems. I tried "lmhosts" entry in client system: 127.0.0.1 localhost 192.168.1.100 server.MYDOMAIN #PRE #DOM:MYDOMAIN 192.168.1.101 backup-server.MYDOMAIN #PRE #DOM:MYDOMAIN Failed the login. (whenever DC1 is down, it login from its cache. I checked with "set" command for logonserver name, which shows local system name) Then installed DNS in DC2. Installation finished with error saying somewhat like "it could not start DNS service within expected time, it will work after it is completely started".. I checked "services": and found DNS server in "started" status. I stoped and started (no errors). Still login failed from clients (only from cache). Then took DNS "manage" MMC window in DC2. Not showning any server names. I took connect to "this computer"(to work with DC2 DNS configurations) But failed: showing an error page listed with possible reasons. How can i make to login to DC2 in the absence of DC1? If DNS needed in DC2, what are the next steps to get a successfully running DNS in DC2? Eagerly waiting for your help Rgds, Chambu working as network administrator

Don't use lmhosts file. DC2 should also be a Global Catalog holder. is your DC2 dns server secondary or AD intergrated? Give a person a fish, they eat for a day. Suggest they internet search and they learn a skill for a lifetime.

Let me first thank you, Mr Wanderer. DC2 was not a global catalog holder. I made it. but DC2 DNS is not successfull because of the reasons I stated in the first message (so i cant say that whether it is seconady or not. DNS manage window in DC2 shows only DC1 when DC1 is up). First message:"Installation finished with error saying somewhat like "it could not start DNS service within expected time, it will work after it is completely started".. I checked "services": and found DNS server in "started" status. I stoped and started (no errors). Then took DNS "manage" MMC window in DC2. Not showning any server names. I took connect to "this computer"(to work with DC2 DNS configurations) But failed: showing an error page listed with possible reasons". i did connect to DNS of DC1 thru DC2 DNS manage console. If DNS needed in DC2, what are the next steps to get a successfully running DNS in DC2? and how to integrate AD?

Hi Wanderer. I did re-install of DC2. Before it promoted to a DC, i took the DNS manage console and started config it. Then it asked for primary or secondary (AD integration option was not active). I cancelled it and then promoted to additional DC in MYDOMAIN.(no errors). Immediately after that, i took again DC2 DNS manage console. But I failed, even to conect to DNS, showing an error screen in the right pane of console window. (DC2 is also a golbal catalog holder). When i made it AD (additional DC), DNS got down. What should i do ? I keenly looking for ur valuable suggestions, pls help me