Need some advice on learning networking

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

Man, there's a lot to learn about how DNS works. Much more than I thought.

There's about 30 different types of DNS records. The more important ones are: A-records and AAAA-records (Quad Records). A-records are used to resolve IP addresses to hostnames in IP4. AAAA-records are used to resolve IP addresses to hostnames in IP6.

Wait, there's more....

You also have "Reverse Look Up Zones". Reverse lookup zones are used by certain applications, such as NSLookup. When I set up my DNS server, I didn't create a Reverse Look Up Zone, thus when I tried using NSLookup, it wouldn't work.

Due to my limited experience with Windows Server, I didn't realize that I could manually enter the A-records for every device on my network.

It's not that complicated, though. A -records are a simple text file.

Edit: Here's a brief explanation of the difference between a Forward Look Up Zone and a Reverse Look Up Zone.

A Forward Look Up Zone resolves an IP address to a hostname.

A Reverse Look Up Zone resolves a hostname to an IP address.

If I go to the command prompt and type: nslookup www.google. com, it will return the IP address of google. In other words, NSLookup is searching the A-records for a hostname.

Now if I go to command prompt and type: nslookup 192.168.1.143, it will return with a hostname. This time it's searching the A-records for an IP address. That's assuming I have the Reverse Lookup Zone set up correctly.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

One more thing. Have you ever tried setting up SMB and it wouldn't work when you used the hostname of the PC but would work if you entered the IP address? That's because the Reverse DNS records were screwed up. That's where NSLookup can be a powerful tool.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I feel sorry for the poor bastard that has to set up a DNS server. Here's why:


If you're connecting a new device to the network for the first time, it's gonna dynamically (via DHCP Server) enter the pointer records (forward and reverse records) to the DNS server. However, for any existing devices with a static IP address, you have to enter by hand.

[srvctec]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I feel sorry for the poor bastard that has to set up a DNS server. Here's why:


If you're connecting a new device to the network for the first time, it's gonna dynamically (via DHCP Server) enter the pointer records (forward and reverse records) to the DNS server. However, for any existing devices with a static IP address, you have to enter by hand.

Seems like there would be a way by now that the poor dude could automate that. What if there were 100's if not 1,000's of devices? Dang!

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

Seems like there would be a way by now that the poor dude could automate that. What if there were 100's if not 1,000's of devices? Dang!

There may be another way of doing it but I haven't found one.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I was just sitting here thinking, I've learned a ton working with Windows Sever 2019. None of it is terribly difficult, it's just a massive amount of information. But out of all the things I learned about networking, I think the most difficult to wrap my mind around was the OSI model. I really didn't fully understand it until I started using WireShark.

[slimslob]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I feel sorry for the poor bastard that has to set up a DNS server. Here's why:


If you're connecting a new device to the network for the first time, it's gonna dynamically (via DHCP Server) enter the pointer records (forward and reverse records) to the DNS server. However, for any existing devices with a static IP address, you have to enter by hand.

I could be wrong but I believe the network interface on your computer can be set to do this automatically when it connects. Network and Internet Settings - Advanced Network Settings - Change Adapter Options - Adapter Properties - TCP/IPv4 - Advanced - DNS Tab - Register this connnection's address in DNS.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I could be wrong but I believe the network interface on your computer can be set to do this automatically when it connects. Network and Internet Settings - Advanced Network Settings - Change Adapter Options - Adapter Properties - TCP/IPv4 - Advanced - DNS Tab - Register this connnection's address in DNS.

I'm gonna give that a try. I'll post the results. Thanks, slim.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

After playing around in the DHCP server & the DNS server...the best I can tell is that any new device that is added on the network with a static IP address...the pointer records will not be added. It's interesting to look at the pointer records as you add computers and copiers to the network. If it's not right, it will cause problems....I can tell you that.

PS - I'm sure I'm missing something. Slim is usually right when he says something.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

One quick note:
When I installed a Kycoera copier on the network using DHCP, the only way it would add the pointer records is if I select "Dynamic DNS" on the TCP/IP screen of the copier. Otherwise, it didn't add the records.

[slimslob]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

After playing around in the DHCP server & the DNS server...the best I can tell is that any new device that is added on the network with a static IP address...the pointer records will not be added. It's interesting to look at the pointer records as you add computers and copiers to the network. If it's not right, it will cause problems....I can tell you that.

PS - I'm sure I'm missing something. Slim is usually right when he says something.

I would only install a printer of MFP with a static address when that address was assigned to me by the customer's IT. Many corporate IT use certain address ranges for static IP for certain types of devices. They also kept a record of assigned addresses, most both electronic (spread sheet) and hard copy. An example would be the Lanier NT based digital dictation systems. Lanier recommended that all recorders/database servers be in the xxx.xxx.xxx.001 to xxx.xxx.xxx.010, all consoles be between xxx.xxx.xxx.020 and xxx.xxx.xxx.049 and printers be xxx.xxx.xxx.050 to xxx.xxx.xxx.099. The largest system that I worked on had 2 recorder/database systems, 2 consoles and 1 printer. By staying with the recommend IP addresses tech support could login from Atlanta and do any needed services and updates without having to get a list of addresses used.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I could be wrong but I believe the network interface on your computer can be set to do this automatically when it connects. Network and Internet Settings - Advanced Network Settings - Change Adapter Options - Adapter Properties - TCP/IPv4 - Advanced - DNS Tab - Register this connnection's address in DNS.

slim,

I gotta give credit where credit is due. It seems you are never wrong.

In order to test out what you said, I had to create a new Windows 10 virtual machine and I just got around to it this morning. I changed the PC to a static IP address before joining the domain and followed the instructions above that you recommended. Sure enough the Forward and Reverse Zones were updated with all the records.

Dude, you must have put in a lot of time with Windows Server at some point in your life. Credit where credit is due.

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I just got off the phone with a buddy of mine who an IT Administrator for the city of Gulfport and he said that the best way to set up your network is to point the router back to the Windows DNS server and to use the Service Provider's router as a secondary DNS server. That way, if the the DNS records aren't right in the Server, the secondary router will still resolve hostnames. Makes perfect sense.

[allan]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

Here is a link to a real good Linux based server distribution. Called ClearOS, think you can download and use it but need to pay for support and maintenance.
Slap a second NIC into your PC and request a static outside IP from your ISP so not to struggle too much with dynamic DNS and you have a very capable server.

Started with it while it was still called Clark Connect. Found it to be very easy. Used it as a firewall, gateway, web server, email server and file server.


ClearOS – OS for your Server, Network, and Gateway Systems

[BillyCarpenter]

Re: Need some advice on learning networking

I continue to make progress with Windows Server 2019 but I must say that the learning curve is getting steeper.

I did buy a book on Windows Sever 2019. It's over 1000 pages. Yikes!

It's now clear to me that there's a big difference installing/maintaining a server in a small company compared to an enterprise setting. In that later you have multiple servers and they must be configured a certain way in order to communicate with each other and that looks very complicated.

It also occurred to me that there is no one way to construct your forest. It needs to be laid out according to how the company is structured. Best practice is to draw it out on a sheet of paper first.

I continue to pick up knowledge along the way....as frustrating as it may be.