Windows – Recommended DHCP and DNS setup

dhcpdomain-name-systemwindows

I've been tasked with sorting out my office network. Presently there is no internal host name resolution.

Presently the DHCP server is on a Cisco security device and we are using an external (8.8.8.8) DNS server.

I have set up domain server (Windows 2012) and added a DNS server to it. The issue is it only resolves host names of device that are logged into the domain.

We have plenty of devices that do not connect to the domain, so my question is, how do I get them to register their names with the DNS server?

Note some devices use static IP's and some are DHCP.

Best Answer

The simplest thing [from this AD admin's viewpoint at least] is the following:

  1. On your DCs running DNS, Configure a DNS Server to Use Forwarders. Throw Google's DNS addresses in there if you like their service.

  2. Get an AD-integrated DHCP server running, see Integrating DHCP with DNS. DNS dynamic updates can be configured to allow non-domain devices to register their DNS info via the DHCP server.

  3. Add your non-domain-statically-addressed devices to DNS as described in Adding Resource Records.

  4. Set Aging and Scavenging Properties for the DNS Server. Check the TN blog post Don't be afraid of DNS Scavenging. Just be patient. when you get stuck on this step.

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