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computerSolution

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Okay so I took a server home for maintenance last night and plugged it into a my home network, switching to DHCP. I took a pic of the adapter settings and put everything back to normal this morning and error is DNS related-- diagnostics says DNS server isnt responding.

SETTINGS:
SBS2011
Server:
IP=192.168.0.5
SUB=255.255.255.0
Default Gateway=Blank
Preferred DNS= 127.0.0.1

Thank you!
 
Yeah...you don't want to change the IP settings of a domain controller to "obtain auto"....that next reboot will take a loooooong long time since DNS cannot find itself..and active directory is built on top of DNS. So if DNS no worky...nothing else will work well..the foundation of the building has been broken.

Odd that you have a blank gateway...not the cause of your issue though.

Did this server have 2x network cards?

After changing IPs on a DC..it usually takes 2 to 3 reboots to settle everything back down again..and they may take a while.
 
Added note....often with servers....when you have changed an IP address, and perhaps changed yet again...when you reassign IPs and apply the setting, you may get a warning about that address already existing, and/or overwriting. Just read it closely and apply appropriately...sometimes it makes you stop and re-think and doubt what you're doing. It's like there is a "ghost" IP address in the background.
 
Never change the internet settings on a SBS server by hand. It breaks things. DNS was provided by the DNS server on the unit. Did you check the settings there before you started changing things. If you put it on DHCP then it turned OFF the DNS server and as it is a DC that is really really BAD.

Why did you take this server off site? What was the problem with it to begin with that required that?
 
Basically I'm an idiot. I wouldn't do it again. I checked the settings before I changed anything-- I didn't check the advanced settings, so could that be the issue?

I am thinking maybe if I restart it a few times it may fix itself?

Is the loopback address correct for the servers primary dns?

All other computers can connect to internet and to server. Only problem is that server can't connect to internet because of DNS issues, which I obviously screwed up when I told it to use DHCP (is that correct?)

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR HELPING!!

Xander-- thanks for the tip. I'm new to forums too.
 
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loopback is correct BUT only when you have a working DNS server on the system. By changing the setting to DHCP you cleared or changed the setting in the DNS sever. You didn't note what the setting were before you changed them so you can put them back.

You need to rerun the Network connection wizard and let it resetup everything. Was this unit running exchange?
 
Exchange

Like i said, I'm new at this so correct me if I am wrong...

Exchange is a mail client that provides company email (is this correct)?

If this is correct, then no, because their company email was still working without the server plugged in (right?)

It is running Quickbooks and a few network shares-- that's all (I think)

When you say I didn't check the config-- was that in the advanced settings?
 
loopback is fine...it's a small business server, thus is ONLY looks at itself for DNS, nothing else...no questions asked..only itself.

I put in the servers IP out of habit...but Microsoft started having the setup wizard do the loopback. Either way works just fine.

Just bounce it a few times. Or run the CEICW (configure e-mail internet connection wizard)...just be aware of what NOT to change..such as e-mail, certificate, etc.

But honestly I think setting the IP back to what it was manually is just fine, long as you are correct in what you noted. Just have to bounce the server at least one more time.
 
Bounce the server-- meaning reboot?

CEICW-- Is this different from the network setup wizard as suggested by nline? Answer me this-- am I right about my Exchange post? Is there anything on this server that has anything to do with email if the company email was working without the server hooked to the network? Please tell me I understand that much (lol)
 
computerSolution said:
Like i said, I'm new at this so correct me if I am wrong...

Exchange is a mail client that provides company email (is this correct)?

If this is correct, then no, because their company email was still working without the server plugged in (right?)

It is running Quickbooks and a few network shares-- that's all (I think)

When you say I didn't check the config-- was that in the advanced settings?
Click to expand...

I am talking about the settings under DNS MANAGER settings. Not the DNS entries under the network card. If you don't know how to set that you shouldn't be touching a Windows Server.

YeOldeStonecat said:
loopback is fine...it's a small business server, thus is ONLY looks at itself for DNS, nothing else...no questions asked..only itself.

I put in the servers IP out of habit...but Microsoft started having the setup wizard do the loopback. Either way works just fine.

Just bounce it a few times. Or run the CEICW (configure e-mail internet connection wizard)...just be aware of what NOT to change..such as e-mail, certificate, etc.

But honestly I think setting the IP back to what it was manually is just fine, long as you are correct in what you noted. Just have to bounce the server at least one more time.
Click to expand...

Perhaps. Any time I've ever changed a server to DHCP it has killed filed all the entries in the DNS Manager.
 
computerSolution said:
Bounce the server-- meaning reboot?

CEICW-- Is this different from the network setup wizard as suggested by nline? Answer me this-- am I right about my Exchange post? Is there anything on this server that has anything to do with email if the company email was working without the server hooked to the network? Please tell me I understand that much (lol)
Click to expand...

yes that is what I am talking about. IT is the Configure Email and Internet Connection Wizard.

As for email. Probably. But some places have backup email services. No-ip.com provides such a service.
 
Its true I have no business touching this thing, but I live in a small town in Oklahoma and I know more than most around here, unfortunately.

I never would have touched it if I hadn't known about this forum, I tell you that.

So please, now that we know I'm an idiot, how do I fix it-- just try restarting it a few times...

If not run that wizard...

Anything else?!

I would love to donate to your cause for your help-- let me know!!
 
CEICW is the old name of the hand holding setup wizard...yes.

Exchange is not an e-mail client...it's an e-mail server, it is bundled with Small Business Server. If the prior tech guy setup SBS to use it...or not...I cannot tell from here. But based on your saying that their e-mail is working even though you have the server in your hands...then I guess they're not using SBS for e-mail..but some internet based host.

Which also makes me think that they're not using SBS properly at all..if you have SBS in your hands, and not in their network...then they lost their DHCP source and DNS source. Unless you reprogrammed their router to temporarily enable DHCP and hand out IPs and DNS...they probably were setup from the router from the get go.

So many possibilities of pre-existing improper setup and mis-use...I'm wanting to scream! (not at you...I know you didn't set it up)

"Bounce" is my word for "reboot".

Willing to offer help if you need it...but tomorrow afternoon (I am on EST)..as I'm occupied tonight.
 
nlinecomputers said:
I am talking about the settings under DNS MANAGER settings. Not the DNS entries under the network card. If you don't know how to set that you shouldn't be touching a Windows Server.
.
Click to expand...

To the OP...the following link shows a guide I wrote years ago...illustrating DNS manager in SBS03
http://www.speedguide.net/articles/server-based-network-guide-1660

It's an old article..but the concepts basically still ring true.

However, I doubt your DNS forwarders are the cause of the errors you see.
 
Reboot it. I don't think it will work but other then egg on my face and time what do you have to loose?

After that run the wizard. Don't change anything you don't have to change. As StoneCat said there isn't enough info here to help you well. Really need to know what the role for the server was when it was setup. It doesn't sound like it was setup properly at all.
 
As far as I understand, all they needed was to share a quickbooks database and some word documents/pdfs, and this guy comes in and bills them like 9 grand over 9 months installing a $2000 server and configuring a network.

Companyweb is set up. is that local intranet?

The client is big oil money and ignorant about this stuff, and basically got taken for a ride. I know just enough to get me in trouble, but I am a quick student and am willing to read any resource you can direct me to.

What is the best way to share Quickbooks without a server? They never open the database at the same time, so couldn't I just use Dropbox?

They have a website that is not hosted on their server, email that is cloud based-- I was trying to figure out why in the heck they had a server myself.

The guy that fixed it was in his 60s and would come in, do nothing, and charge a bunch of money, so I'm here to pick up the pieces.

QUICKBOOKS WILL NOT RUN UNLESS THE SERVER IS ONLINE??

Network shares have been reconnected but Quickbooks will not open. There is a server edition of Quickbooks on the server.

I need to restore Quickbooks functionality- that is the only thing that is not working that they need the server for, as far as i can tell!!
 
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