I am new to this, so i am looking for a little help to get me started. I have a router that is setup to act as a DHCP server. I have built a windows 2003 server and i feel i have it all set up appropiately with all components installed. Including Domain Controller(active Directory) , DNS server, DHCP server and WINS server. I also feel i have my domain setup correctly. I am trying to put a winxp pro onto the domain but when trying to connect it i always get an error basically saying 'A domain controller for the domain 'benview' could not be contacted. benview being my domain name. All of the these machine are connected via wireless. My question are: Should i have the DHCP server enabled on win2003 server instead of the router? Are my problems accuring due to wireless connectivity? How could i rectify these problems? Hope someone can bring some thought to the subject or even some websites with good setup tutorials. Will be greatful for the help. Thanks awd

usually this is a error in setting up dns server. the dns server should contain a entry to itself in both host and ptr records. no entries in either the nic card tcp/ip or the forward lookup zone should contain entries to to the isps dns servers. the isps dns entries should be in the forwarders tab. only difference between server doing dhcp vs the router is the router doesn't dynamically update the servers dns entries. Better to have server do it. Give a person a fish you feed them for a day. Ask a person to internet search and they learn a skill for a lifetime.

Hi thanks for the quick response. i have added entries in dns for both host and ptr records and have made sure no entries in nic card or forward lookup zone to isp's dns servers. But.. i still get the following error: The following error occurred when DNS was queried for the service location (SRV) resource record used to locate a domain controller for domain benview.local: The error was: "This operation returned because the timeout period expired." (error code 0x000005B4 ERROR_TIMEOUT) The query was for the SRV record for _ldap._tcp.dc._msdcs.benview.local The DNS servers used by this computer for name resolution are not responding. This computer is configured to use DNS servers with the following IP addresses: 192.168.0.3 Verify that this computer is connected to the network, that these are the correct DNS server IP addresses, and that at least one of the DNS servers is running. For more information on how to correct this problem, click Help. Thanks

A timeout means that the client couldn't even connect to the DNS server in the first place. Check the DNS settings on your DHCP, so that clients are being assigned the correct DNS server, and make sure that a firewall isnt blocking the request (software firewalls can cause huge problems on domains). Try turning any firewalls off on the client, and there shouldnt be a firewall on the server anyway, but I guess you could check Windows Firewall is off, as that's pretty useless! Good Luck Rob

Cheers, and i thought firewalls were a good idea. All working fine now. Thanks For the help Andy

Another perfect example of you can't believe the error message specifics. Great job robg63 Give a person a fish you feed them for a day. Ask a person to internet search and they learn a skill for a lifetime.