Active Director & DNS Setup

Active Directory & DNS Setup

Abstract
This document can help you implement Domain Name System (DNS) on Microsoft Windows Server 2003
on a small network. DNS is the main way that Windows Server 2003 translates computer names to network
addresses. An Active Directory based domain controller also can act as a DNS server that registers the
names and addresses of computers in the domain and then provides the network address of a member
computer when queried with the computer's name.
This guide explains how to set up DNS on a simple network consisting of a single domain.

Domain Name System Step-by-Step Guide

Domain Name System (DNS) is a system for naming computers and network services that organizes them
into a hierarchy of domains. DNS naming is used on TCP/IP networks, such as the Internet, to locate
computers and services by using user-friendly names. When a user enters the DNS name of a computer in an
application, DNS can look up the name and provide other information associated with the computer, such as
its IP address or services that it provides for the network. This process is called name resolution.
Name systems such as DNS make it easier to use network resources by providing users a way to refer to a
computer or service by a name that is easy to remember. DNS looks up that name and provides the numeric
address that operating systems and applications require to identify the computer on a network. For example,
users enter www.microsoft.com instead of the server's numeric IP address to identify the Microsoft Web
server on the Internet.
DNS requires little ongoing maintenance for small and medium-sized businesses, which typically have one
to four DNS servers (larger medium-sized organizations usually have between four and 14 DNS servers).
DNS problems, however, can affect availability for your entire network. Most DNS problems arise because
of DNS settings that are incorrectly configured. By following the procedures in this guide, you can avoid
such problems when you deploy DNS in a simple Microsoft Windows Server 2003–based network.
This guide explains how to install and configure a basic DNS implementation in a network that consists of a
single new Active Directory® domain. It then addresses some advanced topics that medium-sized
organizations might need to consider. Finally, it includes some basic DNS troubleshooting steps you can take
if you suspect your environment is having problems with DNS.

In This Guide
 Planning DNS
 Installing and Configuring Active Directory and DNS
 Configuring DNS Client Settings (DNS Step-by-Step)
 Advanced DNS Configuration (DNS Step-by-Step)
 Troubleshooting DNS (DNS Step-by-Step)

Planning DNS
DNS is the primary method for name resolution in the Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition;
Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition; and Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition operating systems
(collectively referred to as "Windows Server 2003" in this guide). DNS is a requirement for deploying the
Active Directory directory service. Integrating DNS with Active Directory enables DNS servers to take
advantage of the security, performance, and fault tolerance capabilities of Active Directory.
Typically, you organize your DNS namespace (the association of domains, subdomains, and hosts) in a way
that supports how you plan to use Active Directory to organize the computers on your network.

Understanding the DNS Namespace

DNS is a hierarchical naming system. A DNS name includes the names of all of the DNS namespaces that it
belongs to. The following illustration shows how the DNS namespace is organized.

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The DNS namespace begins with a logical root domain that is not named, partly because it is implicit in all
DNS names. The root domain in turn contains a limited number of subdomains that help organize the DNS
namespace. These subdomains are called top-level domains (TLDs) because they are the highest-level or
most inclusive part of the DNS namespace that people use. The names of these top-level domains are either
functional or geographical.
Functional top-level domains suggest the purpose of the organization that has registered a subdomain in the
top-level domain. Some of the most common functional top-level domain names are:
 The .com top-level domain, which is usually used to register DNS domain names that belong to
commercial entities, such as corporations.
 The .edu top-level domain, which is most often used by educational institutions, such as colleges and
public and private schools.
 The .gov top-level domain, which is used by government entities, including federal, state, and local
governments.
 The .net top-level domain, which is often used by organizations that provide Internet services, such as
Internet service providers (ISPs).
 The .org top-level domain, which is typically used for private, nonprofit organizations.
Geographical top-level domains indicate the country or region where the organization that registered the
domain is located. For example, an organization that wants to emphasize that it is located in Canada would
register its Internet domain name in the .ca top-level domain, while an organization that wants to show that it
is based in Brazil would register its Internet domain name in the .br top-level domain.
Most organizations that want to have an Internet presence, such as for a Web site or sending and receiving e-
mail, register an Internet domain name that is a subdomain of a top-level domain. Usually they choose a
subdomain name based on their organization's name, such as contoso.com or microsoft.com. Registering an
Internet domain name reserves the name for the exclusive use of the organization and configures DNS
servers on the Internet to provide the appropriate Internet Protocol (IP) address when they are queried for
that name. In other words, it creates the equivalent of a telephone directory entry for the Internet domain
name. But instead of providing a telephone number for the name, it provides the IP address that a computer
requires to access the computers in the registered domain.
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The DNS namespace is not limited to just the publicly registered Internet domain names. Organizations that
have networks with their own DNS servers can create domains for their internal use. As the next section
explains, these internal DNS namespaces can be, but are not required to be, subdomains of a public Internet
domain name.

Designing a DNS Namespace

You can design an external namespace that is visible to Internet users and computers, and you can also
design an internal namespace that is accessible only to users and computers that are within the internal
network.
Organizations that require an Internet presence as well as an internal namespace must deploy both an
internal and an external DNS namespace and manage each namespace separately. In this case, it is
recommended that you make your internal domain a subdomain of your external domain. Using an internal
domain that is a subdomain of an external domain:
 Requires you to register only one name with an Internet name authority even if you later decide to make
part of your internal namespace publicly accessible.
 Ensures that all of your internal domain names are globally unique.
 Simplifies administration by enabling you to administer internal and external domains separately.
 Allows you to use a firewall between the internal and external domains to secure your DNS deployment.
For example, an organization that has an external domain name of contoso.com might use the internal
domain name corp.contoso.com.
You can use your internal domain as a parent for additional child domains that you create to manage
divisions within your company, in cases where you are deploying an Active Directory domain for each
division. Child domain names are immediately subordinate to the domain name of the parent. For example, a
child domain for a manufacturing division that is added to the us.corp.contoso.com namespace might have
the domain name manu.us.corp.contoso.com.

Creating an Internet DNS Domain Name

An Internet DNS domain name is composed of a top-level domain name (such as .com, .org, or .edu) and a
unique subdomain name chosen by the domain owner. For example, a company named Contoso Corporation
would probably choose contoso.com as its Internet domain name.
When you have selected your Internet DNS domain, conduct a preliminary search of the Internet to confirm
that the DNS domain name that you selected is not already registered to another organization. If you do not
find that your domain name is already registered to another organization, contact your Internet service
provider (ISP) to confirm that the domain name is available and to help you register your domain name.
Your ISP will probably set up a DNS server on its own network to host the DNS zone for your domain
name, or it might help you set up a DNS server on your network for this purpose.

Creating Internal DNS Domain Names

For your internal domains, create names relative to your registered Internet DNS domain name. For
example, if you have registered the Internet DNS domain name contoso.com for your organization, use a
DNS domain name such as corp.contoso.com for the internal fully qualified DNS domain name and use
CORP as the NetBIOS name.
If you are deploying DNS in a private network and do not plan to create an external namespace, you should
nevertheless consider registering the DNS domain name that you create for your internal domain. If you do
not register the name and later attempt to use it on the Internet, or connect to a network that is connected to
the Internet, you might find that the name is unavailable.

Creating DNS Computer Names

It is important to develop a practical DNS computer-naming convention for computers on your network.
This enables users to remember the names of computers on public and private networks easily, and therefore
facilitates access to network resources.

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Use the following guidelines when creating names for the DNS computers in your Windows
Server 2003 DNS infrastructure:
 Select computer names that are easy for users to remember.
 Identify the owner of a computer in the computer name. For example, john-doe indicates that John Doe
uses the computer, and pubs-server indicates that the computer is a server that belongs to the
Publications department.
 Alternatively, select names that describe the purpose of the computer. For example, a file server named
past-accounts-1 indicates that the file server stores information related to past accounts.
 Do not use character case to convey the owner or purpose of a computer. DNS is not case-sensitive.
 Match the Active Directory domain name to the primary DNS suffix of the computer name. The primary
DNS suffix is the part of the DNS name that appears after the host name.
 Use unique names for all computers in your organization. Do not assign the same computer name to
different computers in different DNS domains.
 Use ASCII characters to ensure interoperability with computers running versions of Windows earlier
than Windows 2000. For DNS computer names, use only the characters A–Z, a–z, 0–9, and the hyphen
(-).

Installing and Configuring Active Directory and DNS

When you create a new domain, the Active Directory Installation Wizard installs DNS on the server by
default. This ensures that DNS and Active Directory are configured properly for integration with each other.

Important
Before you install Active Directory and DNS on the first domain controller server in a new domain,
ensure that the IP address of the server is static, meaning it is not assigned by Dynamic Host
Configuration Protocol (DHCP). DNS servers must have static addresses to ensure that they can be
located reliably.

To install DNS with Active Directory in a new domain:

1. Click Start, point to Administrative tools, and then click Configure Your
Server Wizard.
2. On the Manage Your Server page, click Add or remove a role.
3. On the Configure Your Server Wizard page, click Next.
4. Click Domain Controller (Active Directory) and then click Next.
5. On the Welcome to the Active Directory Installation Wizard page, click Next.
6. On the Operating System Compatibility page, read the information and then
click Next.
If this is the first time you have installed Active Directory on a server running
Windows Server 2003, click Compatibility Help for more information.
7. On the Domain Controller Type page, click Domain controller for a new
domain and then click Next.

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8. On the Create New Domain page, click Domain in a new forest and then click
Next.
9. On the New Domain Name page, type the full DNS name (such as
corp.contoso.com) for the new domain, and then click Next.
10. On the NetBIOS Domain Name page, verify the NetBIOS name (for example,
CORP), and then click Next.
11. On the Database and Log Folders page, type the location in which you want to
install the database and log folders, or click Browse to choose a location, and
then click Next.

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12. On the Shared System Volume page, type the location in which you want to
install the SYSVOL folder, or click Browse to choose a location, and then click
Next.

13. On the DNS Registration Diagnostics page, click Install and configure the
DNS server on this computer, and set this computer to use this DNS server
as its preferred DNS server, and then click Next.

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14. On the Permissions page, select one of the following:

 Permissions compatible with pre-Windows 2000 Server operating
systems
 Permissions compatible only with Windows 2000 or Windows
Server 2003 operating systems

15. On the Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator Password page, type
a password that will be used to log on to the server in Directory Services Restore
Mode, confirm the password, and then click Next.
16. Review the Summary page, and then click Next to begin the installation.
17. After the Active Directory installation completes, click OK to restart the
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computer.

Configuring DNS Client Settings (DNS Step-by-Step)

Configure the following settings for each DNS client:
 TCP/IP settings for DNS
 Host name and domain membership

To configure DNS client settings

1. At the computer that you are configuring to use DNS, click Start, point to Control
Panel, and then click Network Connections.
2. Right-click the network connection that you want to configure, and then click
Properties.
3. On the General tab, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.

4. If you want to obtain DNS server addresses from a DHCP server, click Obtain DNS
server address automatically.

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5. If you want to configure DNS server addresses manually, click Use the following DNS
server addresses, and in Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server, type the
Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the preferred DNS server and alternate DNS server.
6. Click OK to exit.
Note
It is not necessary to restart the computer at this time if you intend to change the
computer's name or domain membership in the following steps.
7. In Control Panel, double-click System.
8. On the Computer Name tab, click Change.
9. In Computer name, type the name of the computer (the host name).
10. Click Domain, and then type the name of the domain you want the computer to join.

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11. If Computer Name Changes appears, in User Name, type the domain name and user
name of an account that is allowed to join computers to the domain, and in Password,
type the password of the account. Separate the domain name and user name with a
backslash (for example, domain\username).

12. Click OK to close all dialog boxes.

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History of TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is an industry standard suite of protocols that is
designed for large networks consisting of network segments that are connected by routers. TCP/IP is the
protocol that is used on the Internet, which is the collection of thousands of networks worldwide that
connect research facilities, universities, libraries, government agencies, private companies, and individuals.

The roots of TCP/IP can be traced back to research conducted by the United States Department of
Defense (DoD) Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The following list highlights some important TCP/IP milestones:

In 1970, ARPANET hosts started to use Network Control Protocol (NCP), a preliminary form of
what would become the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).

In 1972, the Telnet protocol was introduced. Telnet is used for terminal emulation to connect
dissimilar systems. In the early 1970s, these systems were different types of mainframe computers.

In 1973, the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) was introduced. FTP is used to exchange files between
dissimilar systems.

In 1974, the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) was specified in detail. TCP replaced NCP and
provided enhanced reliable communication services.

In 1981, the Internet Protocol (IP) (also known as IP version 4 [IPv4]) was specified in detail. IP
provides addressing and routing functions for end-to-end delivery.

In 1982, the Defense Communications Agency (DCA) and ARPA established the Transmission
Control Protocol (TCP) and Internet Protocol (IP) as the TCP/IP protocol suite.

In 1983, ARPANET switched from NCP to TCP/IP.

In 1984, the Domain Name System (DNS) was introduced. DNS resolves domain names (such as
www.example.com) to IP addresses (such as 192.168.5.18).

In 1995, Internet service providers (ISPs) began to offer Internet access to businesses and
individuals.

In 1996, the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) was introduced. The World Wide Web uses HTTP.

In 1996, the first set of IP version 6 (IPv6) standards were published.

TCP/IP Terminology
The Internet standards use a specific set of terms when referring to network elements and concepts related to
TCP/IP networking. These terms provide a foundation for subsequent chapters. Following figure illustrates
the components of an IP network.

Common terms and concepts in TCP/IP are defined as follows:

Node Any device, including routers and hosts, which runs an implementation of IP.

Router A node that can forward IP packets not explicitly addressed to itself. On an IPv6 network, a
router also typically advertises its presence and host configuration information.

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Host A node that cannot forward IP packets not explicitly addressed to itself (a non-router). A host is
typically the source and the destination of IP traffic. A host silently discards traffic that it receives but that is
not explicitly addressed to itself.

Upper-layer protocol A protocol above IP that uses IP as its transport. Examples include Internet
layer protocols such as the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) and Transport layer protocols such as
the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP). (However, Application layer
protocols that use TCP and UDP as their transports are not considered upper-layer protocols. File Transfer
Protocol [FTP] and Domain Name System [DNS] fall into this category).

LAN segment A portion of a subnet consisting of a single medium that is bounded by bridges or
Layer 2 switches.

Subnet One or more LAN segments that are bounded by routers and use the same IP address prefix.
Other terms for subnet are network segment and link.

Network Two or more subnets connected by routers. Another term for network is internetwork.

Neighbor A node connected to the same subnet as another node.

Interface The representation of a physical or logical attachment of a node to a subnet. An example

of a physical interface is a network adapter. An example of a logical interface is a tunnel interface that is
used to send IPv6 packets across an IPv4 network.

Address An identifier that can be used as the source or destination of IP packets and that is assigned
at the Internet layer to an interface or set of interfaces.

Packet The protocol data unit (PDU) that exists at the Internet layer and comprises an IP header and
payload.
Windows includes both an IPv4-based and an IPv6-based TCP/IP component.

Configuring the IPv4-based TCP/IP Component in Windows

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The IPv4-based TCP/IP component in Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP is installed by default and
appears as the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component in the Network Connections folder. Unlike in previous
versions of Windows, you cannot uninstall the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component. However, you can
restore its default configuration by using the netsh interface ip reset command. For more information about
Netsh commands.

The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component can be configured to obtain its configuration automatically or
from manually specified settings. By default, this component is configured to obtain an address
configuration automatically.

Figure 1-2 The General tab of the properties dialog box for the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component

Properties dialog box.

Automatic Configuration
If you specify automatic configuration, the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component attempts to locate a
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server and obtain a configuration when Windows starts.

Many TCP/IP networks use DHCP servers that are configured to allocate TCP/IP configuration information
to clients on the network

If the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component fails to locate a DHCP server, TCP/IP checks the setting on the
Alternate Configuration tab. Figure 1-3 shows this tab.

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Figure 1-3 The Alternate Configuration tab of the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component
This tab contains two options:

Automatic Private IP Address If you choose this option, Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA)
is used. The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component automatically chooses an IPv4 address from the
range169.254.0.1 to 169.254.255.254, using the subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. The DHCP client ensures that
the IPv4 address that the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component has chosen is not already in use. If the
address is in use, the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component chooses another IPv4 address and repeats this
process for up to 10 addresses. When the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component has chosen an address that
the DHCP client has verified as not in use, the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component configures the
interface with this address. With APIPA, users on single-subnet Small Office/Home Office (SOHO)
networks can use TCP/IP without having to perform manual configuration or set up a DHCP server. APIPA
does not configure a default gateway. Therefore, only local subnet traffic is possible.

User Configured If you choose this option, the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component uses the
configuration that you specify. This option is useful when a computer is used on more than one
network, not all of the networks have a DHCP server, and an APIPA configuration is not wanted. For
example, you might want to choose this option if you have a laptop computer that you use both at the office
and at home. At the office, the laptop uses a TCP/IP configuration from a DHCP server. At home, where no
DHCP server is present, the laptop automatically uses the alternate manual configuration. This option
provides easy access to home network devices and the Internet and allows seamless operation on both
networks, without requiring you to manually reconfigure the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component. If you
specify an APIPA configuration or an alternate manual configuration, the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
component continues to check for a DHCP server in the background every 5 minutes. If TCP/IP finds a
DHCP server, it stops using the APIPA or alternate manual configuration and uses the IPv4 address
configuration offered by the DHCP server.

Manual Configuration
To configure the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component manually, also known as creating a static
configuration, you must at a minimum assign the following:
IP address An IP (IPv4) address is a logical 32-bit address that is used to identify the interface of an
IPv4-based TCP/IP node. Each IPv4 address has two parts: the subnet prefix and the host ID. The subnet
prefix identifies all hosts that are on the same physical network. The host ID identifies a host on the
network. Each interface on an IPv4-based TCP/IP network requires a unique IPv4 address, such as
131.107.2.200.
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Subnet mask A subnet mask allows the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component to distinguish the
subnet prefix from the host ID. An example of a subnet mask is 255.255.255.0.

You must configure these parameters for each network adapter in the node that uses the Internet
Protocol (TCP/IP) component. If you want to connect to nodes beyond the local subnet, you must also
assign the IPv4 address of a default gateway, which is a router on the local subnet to which the node is
attached. The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component sends packets that are destined for remote networks to
the default gateway, if no other routes are configured on the local host. You can also manually configure the
IPv4 addresses of primary and alternate DNS servers. The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component uses DNS
servers to resolve names, such as www.example.com, to IPv4 or IPv6 addresses.

Figure 1-4 shows an example of a manual configuration for the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component.

Figure 1-4 An example of a manual configuration for the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

You can also manually configure the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) using netsh interface ip commands at a
command prompt.

Installing and Configuring the IPv6-based TCP/IP Component in Windows

Windows XP with Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows Server 2003 are the first versions of Windows to
support IPv6 for production use. You install IPv6 as a component in Network Connections; the component
is named Microsoft TCP/IP Version 6 in Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft IPv6 Developer Edition in
Windows XP with SP1.

Note The Microsoft IPv6 Developer Edition component included in Windows XP with no service packs was
intended for application developers only, not for use in production environments. Therefore, all of the Help
topics for that version contain a disclaimer describing its limitations and supported uses. SP1 includes a
version of IPv6 that is intended for production use. However, the Help topics were not updated for SP1.
Therefore, you can disregard the disclaimer if you have installed SP1. Unlike the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
component, the IPv6 component is not installed by default, and you can uninstall it. You can install the IPv6
component in the following ways:
Using the Network Connections folder.

Using the netsh interface ipv6 install command.

To install the IPv6 component in Windows Server 2003 using the Network Connections folder, do the
following:
1. Click Start, point to Control Panel, and then double-click Network Connections.
2. Right -click any local area connection, and then click Properties.

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3. Click Install.
4. In the Select Network Component Type dialog box, click Protocol, and then click Add.
5. In the Select Network Protocol dialog box, click Microsoft TCP/IP Version 6, and then click OK.
6. Click Close to save changes.
Unlike Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), the IPv6 component has no properties dialog box from which you can
configure IPv6 addresses and settings. Configuration should be automatic for IPv6 hosts and manual for
IPv6 routers.

Automatic Configuration
The Microsoft TCP/IP Version 6 component supports address auto configuration. All IPv6 nodes
automatically create unique IPv6 addresses for use between neighboring nodes on a subnet. To reach remote
locations, each IPv6 host upon startup sends a Router Solicitation message in an attempt to discover the
local routers on the subnet. An IPv6 router on the subnet responds with a Router Advertisement message,
which the IPv6 host uses to automatically configure IPv6 addresses, the default router, and other IPv6
settings.

Manual Configuration
You do not need to configure the typical IPv6 host manually. If a host does require manual configuration,
use the netsh interface ipv6 commands to add addresses or routes and configure other settings.
If you are configuring a computer running Windows XP with SP1 or Windows Server 2003 to be an IPv6
router, then you must use the netsh interface ipv6 commands to manually configure the IPv6 component
with address prefixes.

Chapter Glossary
address – An identifier that specifies the source or destination of IP packets and that is assigned at the IP
layer to an interface or set of interfaces.

APIPA – See Automatic Private IP Addressing.

Automatic Private IP Addressing – A feature in Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP that
automatically configures a unique IPv4 address from the range 169.254.0.1 through 169.254.255.254 and a
subnet mask of 255.255.0.0. APIPA is used when the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) component is configured
for automatic addressing, no DHCP server is available, and the Automatic Private IP Address alternate
configuration option is chosen.

host – A node that is typically the source and a destination of IP traffic. Hosts silently discard received
packets that are not addressed to an IP address of the host.

interface – The representation of a physical or logical attachment of a node to a subnet. An example of a

physical interface is a network adapter. An example of a logical interface is a tunnel interface that is used to
send IPv6 packets across an IPv4 network.

IP – Features or attributes that apply to both IPv4 and IPv6. For example, an IP address is either an IPv4
address or an IPv6 address.

IPv4 – The Internet layer protocols of the TCP/IP protocol suite as defined in RFC 791. IPv4 is in
widespread use today.
IPv6 – The Internet layer protocols of the TCP/IP protocol suite as defined in RFC 2460. IPv6 is gaining
acceptance today.

LAN segment – A portion of a subnet that consists of a single medium that is bounded by bridges or Layer 2
switches.

neighbor – A node that is connected to the same subnet as another node.

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network – Two or more subnets that are connected by routers. Another term for network is internetwork.

node – Any device, including routers and hosts, which runs an implementation of IP.

packet – The protocol data unit (PDU) that exists at the Internet layer and comprises an IP header and
payload.

Request for Comments (RFC) - An official document that specifies the details for protocols included in the
TCP/IP protocol suite. The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) creates and maintains RFCs for TCP/IP.

RFC – See Request for Comments (RFC).

router – A node that can be a source and destination for IP traffic and can also forward IP packets that are
not addressed to an IP address of the router. On an IPv6 network, a router also typically advertises its
presence and host configuration information.

subnet – One or more LAN segments that are bounded by routers and that use the same IP address prefix.
Other terms for subnet are network segment and link.

TCP/IP – See Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) – A suite of networking protocols, including both
IPv4 and IPv6, that are widely used on the Internet and that provide communication across interconnected
networks of computers with diverse hardware architectures and various operating systems.

upper-layer protocol – A protocol above IP that uses IP as its transport. Examples of upper-layer
protocols include Internet layer protocols such as the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) and
Transport layer protocols such as the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol
(UDP).

DHCP
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is an IP standard designed to reduce the complexity of
administering address configurations by using a server computer to centrally manage IP addresses and other
related configuration details used on your network. The Microsoft Windows Server 2003 family provides
the DHCP service, which enables the server computer to perform as a DHCP server and configure DHCP-
enabled client computers on your network as described in the current DHCP draft standard, RFC 2131.
(Request for Comments (RFC)
An official document of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) that specifies the details for protocols
included in the TCP/IP family.

DHCP includes Multicast Address Dynamic Client Assignment Protocol (MADCAP) which is used to
perform multicast address allocation. When registered clients are dynamically assigned IP addresses through
MADCAP, they can participate efficiently in the data stream process, such as for real-time video or audio
network transmissions.

Before installing a DHCP or MADCAP server

To install a DHCP server

Open Windows Components Wizard.
Under Components, scroll to and click Networking Services.
Click Details.

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Under Subcomponents of Networking Services, click Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and
then click OK.
Click Next. If prompted, type the full path to the Windows Server 2003 distribution files, and then click
Next.
Required files are copied to your hard disk.

Notes
To open the Windows Components Wizard, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Add or
Remove Programs, and then click Add/Remove Windows Components.

DHCP servers must be configured with a static IP address.

Network Connections
Network Connections provides connectivity between your computer and the Internet, a network, or another
computer. With Network Connections, you can configure settings to reach local or remote network resources
or functions.
Network Connections combines Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0 Dial-Up Networking with features that
were formerly located in the Network Control Panel, such as network protocol and service configuration.
Each connection in the Network Connections folder contains a set of features that creates a link between
your computer and another computer or network. By using Network Connections, performing a task, such as
modifying a network protocol, is as easy as right-clicking a connection and then clicking Properties.

About Network Connections

Network Connections provides connectivity between your computer and the Internet, a network, or another
computer. With Network Connections, you can gain access to network resources and functionality, whether
you are physically located at the location of the network or in a remote location. Connections are created,
configured, stored, and monitored from within the Network Connections folder.

Hardware requirements for network and dial-up connections

Depending on your configuration, you may need some or all of the following hardware:
 One or more network adapters with a Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS) driver for LAN
connectivity
 One or more compatible modems and an available COM port
 ISDN adapter (if you are using an ISDN line)
 DSL adapter
 X.25 adapter or PAD (if you are using X.25)
 Analog telephone line, ISDN line, X.25 line, or DSL line
 Smart card reader
 Wireless adapter

Using local area connections

Typically, computers running Windows are connected to a local area network (LAN). When you install
Windows, your network adapter is detected, and a local area connection is created. It appears, like all other
connection types, in the Network Connections folder. By default, a local area connection is always activated.
A local area connection is the only type of connection that is automatically created and activated.
If you disable your local area connection, the connection is no longer automatically activated. Because your
hardware profile remembers this, it accommodates your location-based needs as a mobile user. For example,
if you travel to a remote sales office and use a separate hardware profile for that location that does not
enable your local area connection, you do not waste time waiting for your network adapter to time out. The
adapter does not even try to connect.

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If your computer has more than one network adapter, a local area connection icon for each adapter is
displayed in the Network Connections folder.
Examples of LAN connections include Ethernet, token ring, cable modems, DSL, FDDI, IP over ATM,
IrDA (Infrared), wireless, and ATM-emulated LANs. Emulated LANs are based on virtual adapter drivers
such as the LAN Emulation Protocol.
If changes are made to your network, you can modify the settings of an existing local area connection to
reflect those changes. The General tab of the Local Area Connection Status dialog box allows you to view
connection information such as connection status, duration, speed, signal strength, amounts of data
transmitted and received, and any diagnostic tools available for a particular connection. The Support tab
contains information on:
 The address type which indicates how the address was assigned. For example the TCP/IP address is
assigned by DHCP.
 The IP address currently assigned for the session.
 The IP subnet mask for the IP address currently assigned for the session.
 The default gateway address of the IP device that allows access to other protocols.
The Support tab also has a Details button that displays detailed information about the properties of the
network connection. This includes the addresses of dependent external devices.
If you install a new LAN adapter in your computer, the next time you start your computer, a new local area
connection icon appears in the Network Connections folder. Plug and Play functionality finds the network
adapter and creates a local area connection for it. If you are using a laptop computer, you can add a PC card
while the computer is on. Plug and Play will identify the new card without you having to restart your laptop
computer. The local area connection icon is immediately added to the folder. You cannot manually add local
area connections to the Network Connections folder.
You can configure multiple LAN adapters through the Advanced Settings menu option. You can modify
the order of adapters that are used by a connection, and the associated clients, services, and protocols for the
adapter. You can modify the provider order in which this connection gains access to information on the
network, such as networks and printers.
You configure the device a connection uses, and all of the associated clients, services, and protocols for the
connection, through the Properties menu option. Clients define the access of the connection to computers
and files on your network. Services provide features such as file and printer sharing. Protocols, such as
TCP/IP, define the language your computer uses to communicate with other computers.
Depending on the status of your local area connection, the icon changes appearance in the Network
Connections folder, or a separate icon appears in the taskbar. If a LAN adapter is not detected by your
computer, a local area connection icon does not appear in the Network Connections folder.

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