Domain structure in 2003 server... only XP?

[ostrich80]

i just got my server with 2003 windows... but with my 2k pro clients, i couldn't locate the server... so i couldnt join...

i heard only xp clients will be able to connect to 2003 server,,, is it true?

 

[daveshel]

No, this is not true. Server 2003 will support down level clients back to Win98. Make sure you have basic connectivity: IP addresses on the same subnet and can ping.

 

[stash]

DNS...

Its not set up correctly, without a doubt.

 

[ostrich80]

i think i forgot to put the DNS address correct... thanks for head up... now i am sure i can use this 2k machines...

but how do i join domain with win98??? i thought it was for only workgroup...

 

[stash]

Nope, you can join 98 clients to a AD. And if you install the Directory Services client, they will have added AD functionality, such as site awareness. Site awareness is key if you have many 98 computers on different subnets. Without site awareness, they will authenticate against the PDC emulator, which could be across a very slow WAN link. With site awareness, they will be able to authenticate against a local DC.

 

[daveshel]

You can specify a domain in the properties for Client for MS Networks, and it will even let you know if it can't find a domain controller. You might have to manually create the machine account in ADUC for a Win98 client, though.

 

[djdrastic]

1)Specfy the domain with the DNS NAME
2)If that doesn't work do an nslookup and look for the domain you want to join

nslookup
> mydomain.com

3)If that fails make sure the DC Is available , try and ping it with address first / then name
4)Make Sure your DNS Servers Are Specified correctly in the TCP / IP Properties of your adapter !
4)If the ping lookup fails by name do an ipconfig /release , ipconfig /renew + ipconfig /flushdns + ipconfig /registerdns
5)
5)Make sure FSMO roles are working properly around the domain . You can find out using NSLOOKUP , AD Sites and Services , ntdsutil


PS you can add the PC's Remotely if you want to , extract the x:\support\tools\support.cab to a dir and then go to CMD Line


dir>netdom join x.x.x.x /DOMAIN:mydomain.com /userdomainadminaccount /pasworddomainadminpassword /usero:localpcadminaccountname /passwordo:localpcadminpassword /reboot