EXAM 70-293 OBJECTIVE 2.7

One of the most common sources of trouble on any Windows network whether it s a Windows NT, Windows 2000, or Windows Server 2003 network is faulty name resolution. Computers cannot resolve the computer names to the proper IP addresses, or they cannot find an IP address associated with a computer name at all. When name resolution (the process of finding the IP addresses associated with computer names and services running on those computers) is not working perfectly, a multitude of problems can arise, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Users might not be able to log on to the network.

• Users might not be able to connect to applications and services residing on remoter computers.

• Domain controllers might not be able to communicate with each other.

In fact, problems with name resolution are so common that a typical first step in troubleshooting problems on a Windows network is to ensure that name resolution is working flawlessly. A common mantra that reflects this situation is the following: The problem is irrelevant. The answer is DNS. Although this is a gross oversimplification of the problems that can arise on a Windows network, it does contain a germ of truth.

It is critically important that an appropriate name resolution strategy be planned, implemented, and maintained on every Windows network. Starting with Windows 2000, correct host name resolution is a necessary condition for the proper operation of the network. This contrasts with Windows NT 4 and...