Dynamic DNS registration with Windows Server 2003 DNS

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Dynamic DNS registration with Windows Server 2003 DNS

Hello

We have a Mac & PC network. PC's are 2000/XP (90% XP) and Macs are 10.4.11 PPC.
We have an Active Directory 2003 domain with all PC's joined as members, but Macs aren't joined.

We have two Windows Server 2003 R2 32-bit domain controllers.
One is running DHCP service and DNS.
The other is running DNS service only.

Now to the problem:
All Windows machines register against the DNS server automatically. However, the Macs don't.

How can we make our Macs register their names in the DNS server automatically?

Thanks in advance.

iMac G5 2.1, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Jun 14, 2009 3:53 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

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Jun 14, 2009 12:59 PM in response to Gantlett

Hi Gantlett, and a warm welcome to the forums! 🙂

Not sure I can help on this, but your query is slipping down the list, so I'll give a shot.

On the Macs, what numbers & Domain are in Network>TCP/IP>DNS Servers, for the Interface being used?

In Applications>Utilities, there is an APP called Directory Access, with several more setup options.

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Answer 2

Gantlett Author

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Jun 15, 2009 1:28 AM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for the warm welcome!

Under DNS settings we have both of our DNS servers' IP addresses configured.

We have Directory Access unconfigured.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

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Jun 15, 2009 1:37 AM in response to Gantlett

No expert here, mostly just bumping this up to the top in hopes of an expert seeing it, but I was kinda thinking in a Windows Server envirinment more than a few things in Directory Access did need configuring!???

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Answer 4

Gantlett Author

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Jun 15, 2009 3:11 AM in response to BDAqua

BDAqua wrote:
No expert here

That makes the two of us 🙂

I guess Directory Access would be a good place to start, but I don't know for sure...

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Answer 5

Gantlett Author

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Jun 23, 2009 6:03 AM in response to Gantlett

OK - we just made a fantastic discovery:

It appears that two steps need to be done in the DHCP server in order for Macs to register in the DNS server:
1. Right click the DHCP server \ choose Properties \ click on DNS tab, and tick the checkbox which says "Dynamically update DNS A and PTR records for DHCP clients that do not request updates (for example, clients running Windows NT 4.0)".
2. Click on the Advanced tab and click on "Credentials...". In here you must provide domain admin credentials.

Note: After reading MS's help regarding step number 2, I suspect it is not required at all and that the only thing needed is step number 1.

Also, this does not mean that all your DHCP clients will magically appear on the DNS after step number 1, rather only the ones who request an IP from the DHCP server will become registered, since the DHCP server will now be configured to register clients that don't support dynamic DNS registration on their behalf.

Hope that's clear 🙂

Message was edited by: Gantlett

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Answer 6

BDAqua

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Jun 23, 2009 11:26 AM in response to Gantlett

Ah, glad to here you got it working, thanks for the report! 🙂

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Answer 7

Gantlett Author

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Jul 12, 2009 12:37 AM in response to Gantlett

Actually I just discovered step 2 is essential:

Without step 2, the DHCP server leases an address to the client but doesn't register the client in the DNS server. The client's name appears in the address lease line in the DHCP server management console \ Address Leases window, but the DHCP server doesn't create an A record on behalf of the client.

So by entering a credential in step 2 you're allowing non 2000&up DHCP clients to
register in the DNS server.

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Answer 8

BDAqua

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Jul 12, 2009 12:41 AM in response to Gantlett

Thanks for the report, I'm certain it it'll help somebody 🙂

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