Windows 2003 Server + Active Directory = Extremelly slow DNS lookups?

Superwormy

Golden Member
Feb 7, 2001
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So I have Windows 2003 Server set up and all the computers in my house authenticating to it via Active Directory. In order to get Active Directory up and working, I had to tell my router that the primary DNS server is 192.168.1.2, so that the computer which get their DHCP addresses from the router can find the Active Directory server, 192.168.1.2 is the address of the 2003 Server computer. I then setup Windows 2003 Server to use DNS forwarding.

Now, it seems like DNS lookups from every other computer are slow. It takes like 2 to 3 seconds for a domain name to resolve, but after that it's nice and fast for a while. Then it seems like the cache expires and it needs to re-look up the domain names and I have to wait again...

What's going on? Any ideas how to fix this?
 

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
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First, turn off the DHCP Server on your Router. Use your Windows 2003 Server as your DHCP Server, your DNS Server, and your WINS Server. All client PCs and your Server should be using the DNS Server in your Windows 2003 Server. Double-check this on all your client's NICs and on your Server's NIC(s).

Then, either use DNS Forwarders (your ISP's DNS Servers) or use the Root Hints (set NO DNS Forwarders) to let your Windows Server resolve non-local domain names.

If you set it up this way, name resolution should be very fast. Right now, at the very least, you are kinda' going in a circle trying to resolve names.
 

jlbenedict

Banned
Jul 10, 2005
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Sounds screwed up that way... I'm trying to picture it.. but it appears there may possibly be some sort of "loop" type scenerio going on..
With the way you have it set up, your DNS requests are going like this:

Client -- > DNS Server IP Entry --> DNS/AD then sends through the Gateway... which is your router.. but you have told your router that its DNS should be your DNS/AD server..
At that point.. the request goes back to the router.. again..

???

 

stash

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2000
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Is your router handing out any secondary or tertiary DNS servers in addition to the DC as the primary?