Domain Name System (DNS) is one of the most important technologies that a windows domain network is built on. A properly configured DNS infrastructure can allow a user to perform all daily tasks completely independent of the size and nature of the network, and allow an admin to concentrate on more important matters other than the numerous help desk calls that will appear as soon as www.hotmail.com becomes an unknown host.

The subject of DNS is vast, there are so many different configurations, techniques and possible domain structures that there is no one definitive method that would fit all. In my opinion, the 2 things to remember when configuring DNS are: redundancy and hierarchy. It is a good idea to draw your network and plan for where there will be heavy network use especially if you have many remote sites, a separate DNS server at each site is preferable but not always cost efficient, to keep things simple an “Active Directory Integrated” DNS zone on every Domain Controller is the easiest way implement DNS.

I will cover 3 different DNS configurations:

1 – The efficient and secure “Active Directory Integrated” DNS

2 – The standalone Primary DNS Infrastructure and

3 – The network efficient Caching-Only DNS Infrastructure

i will also give an explanation of other useful DNS Information

The Active Directory Integrated Zone Read the rest of this entry »

The following tutorials run consecutively:

Install DHCP Components

Open the Windows Components section of Add/Remove programs: Read the rest of this entry »

Active Directory Requirements:

  • An NTFS partition with approximately 2Gb free Space
  • An Administrator’s username and password and separate Directory Services Restore Mode Password.
  • Properly configured TCP/IP network connection, with IP Address , Subnet mask and Default Gateway.
  • An operational DNS server (which can be installed on the DC itself)
  • A Domain name

Installing Active Directory on the first Domain Controller:

Start the install from the “Configure Your Server” wizard or by typing DCPromo from the Run prompt: Read the rest of this entry »

RIS is Microsoft’s version of 3rd party imaging software such as Symantec’s Ghost. RIS uses various technologies, such as PXE and DHCP to install clean installations, (not upgrade), of several operation systems. The PXE protocol is a combination of DHCP and TFTP, where DHCP is used to locate a boot server or servers, with TFTP used to download the initial bootstrap program and additional files. The bootstrap program can then begin the OS installation.

The process of installing and configuring RIS is described below:

Step 1 – Install the Remote Installation Service Read the rest of this entry »