Getting Mac clients to register in Windows DNS?

Question

Level 1

81 points

Getting Mac clients to register in Windows DNS?

Hi,
We have a mixed system of Mac and PC clients here, with a Windows server box acting as DHCP and DNS server. The Mac is quite happy getting an IP address from DHCP, but I cannot get it to register with DNS.

PCs not only get an IP address from HCP, but when they do so they can automatically update the DNS server with name information (dynamic DNS). I cannot find a way to get Mac clients to also do this, and without it there is no way, short of manual entry, to access the clients by name.

Any ideas, anyone?

Thanks,
Tim

Posted on Sep 23, 2005 12:17 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Sep 23, 2005 6:30 AM in response to Tim Hill1

Hi Tim, here are some seemingly random thoughts. (Watch for a post from Peebles who knows his stuff inside and out)

1) Look at configuring SMB/CIFS in Directory Access on the mac. Possibly enter the IP address of your Windows box in the WINS server box.
2) Examine the /etc/smb.conf file on a typical macTiger. Are there any settings in the [global] section that need to be tweaked (master, browser?) [os level is where browser elections are won and lost]
3) Firewalls blocking NetBIOS?
Some things to look at.

Reply

Answer 2

Tim Hill1 Author

Level 1

81 points

Sep 24, 2005 3:34 PM in response to Rick Van Vliet

Thanks for the tips, I'll go check this out.

On a broader question, has anyone ever got this to work at all (Macs registering with DNS)? Is this a supported feature that I have to tweak to get to work, or it just not supported?

--Tim

Reply

Answer 3

Sep 26, 2005 3:39 PM in response to Tim Hill1

we have ddns working with mac clients but it only works hardwired b/c we're using the MAC

we enter the MAC in every reservation and it's great.

getting it to work when you use airport is a different story.

Reply

Answer 4

Greg McG

Level 1

15 points

Sep 28, 2005 11:17 AM in response to Tim Hill1

Hi Tim --

This has been plaguing us as well; have you made any progress? It's mentioned so little on these forums it makes me feel as though we have something horribly misconfigured.

Our setup:

Windows / Mac clients --> office routers (providing DHCP) --> Internet --> OS X Server (providing DNS/OD/WINS)

Windows clients dynamically update their DNS entries just fine; OS X clients do not. WINS/OD authentication works fine however.

Greg

Reply

Answer 5

Tim Hill1 Author

Level 1

81 points

Sep 28, 2005 4:10 PM in response to Greg McG

No, I've not made any progress, and at this rate I'll have to get out a network sniffer to find out what is going on.

I will post back here if I do get anywhere, though!

--Tim

Reply

Answer 6

Tim Hill1 Author

Level 1

81 points

Sep 28, 2005 4:39 PM in response to Tim Hill1

Update to all. I now have this working! Here's the solution...

Setup: Mac clients on a Windows server network, with Windows DNS server and DHCP server.

Problem: Mac clients obtain DHCP IP addresses correctly, but the DNS zone is not updated with the names of the Mac client. This makes Mac client access by name difficult/impossible.

Solution: Enable the Windows DHCP server to always update the DNS server A and PTR records.

Procedure:
1. Open the DHCP Administrator on Windows server (e.g. open Computer Management and then expand the Services and Applications node).

2. Richt-click on the DHCP server and choose "Properties...".

3. In the DNS tab, ensure "Enable DNS dynamic updates..." is checked. Then check the "Always dynamically update DNS A and PTR records" radio button. Finally, enable the "Dynamically update DNS A and PTR records for DHCP clients that do not request updates..." checkbox.

4. In the "Advanced" tab click the "Credentials" button. Enter an account that can update DNS records (don't know exact needs here, I tested with an admin account).

5. Stop and restart the DHCP server.

That's it! Macs requesting DHCP addresses will now show up by name in the DNS zone, and can be addressed by name as well.

--Tim

Reply

Answer 7

Sep 28, 2005 4:45 PM in response to Tim Hill1

Thanks for following up on this. Network admin is complex enough, and multiple computer type admin is worse. Your tip and step by step procedure is much appreciated. Your article should wind up in the knowledge base (level 4's listening? How can Tim Hill1 get this tip submitted to a FAQ or Knowledge base?)

Ed

Reply