Chapter 14 - Administering TCPIP

Chapter 14

Any sizable TCP/IP-based network needs to use DHCP, DNS, and possibly WINS servers, regardless of whether the Active Directory service is deployed (Active Directory is discussed at length in Chapters 11 and 12). DHCP servers dynamically provide clients with IP addresses and network configuration information, while DNS servers translate friendly host names (such as Srv1.scribes.com) into IP addresses, or vice versa. If the network is routed and contains previous Microsoft Windows clients (Microsoft Windows 98 clients or other clients earlier than Microsoft Windows 2000), you also probably need WINS servers to translate between NetBIOS names (such as Srv1 in the preceding host name) and IP addresses.

Although Active Directory and Windows clients function with standards-based DHCP and DNS servers, such as those available for UNIX systems (nobody other than Microsoft makes WINS servers), Active Directory works best with the DHCP and DNS servers provided as a part of Microsoft Windows 2000 Server. There are a few additional capabilities available when you deploy Active Directory in conjunction with DHCP and DNS servers running Windows 2000 Server, such as secure dynamic updates for legacy clients, and multiple-master replication between DNS servers.

This chapter shows you how to install and manage DHCP, DNS, and WINS servers running Windows 2000 Server.

More Info

For basic background information about these services, see Chapter 13. For more in-depth information, pick up a copy of Microsoft Windows 2000 TCP/IP Protocols and Services Technical Reference (2000) from Microsoft Press. More information about installing and managing DHCP, DNS, and WINS is available in the Windows 2000 help system, as well as in the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit (2001), available from Microsoft Press.