Please Help - Need to Set up a Primary Domain Controller in XP

[Tom]

Hi,

I am quite new to computer networking and am having a
problem setting up a domain.

I am trying to run a mail server on a Windows XP
computer, and need to make the server/computer belong to
my personal domain (mydomain.net). However, when just
trying to join the domain I get the error: "A domain
controller for the domain mydomain.net could not be
contacted."

So, I have found out that I could somehow 'install' a
Primary Domain Controller on the server and thereby
register this domain. Unfortunately I have no idea where
to start trying to install a PDC.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
(I need to fix this by midday Friday, UK time)
Thanks in advance,
Tom

[Ron Lowe]

"Tom" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> I am quite new to computer networking and am having a
> problem setting up a domain.
>
> I am trying to run a mail server on a Windows XP
> computer, and need to make the server/computer belong to
> my personal domain (mydomain.net). However, when just
> trying to join the domain I get the error: "A domain
> controller for the domain mydomain.net could not be
> contacted."
>
> So, I have found out that I could somehow 'install' a
> Primary Domain Controller on the server and thereby
> register this domain. Unfortunately I have no idea where
> to start trying to install a PDC.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated,
> (I need to fix this by midday Friday, UK time)
> Thanks in advance,
> Tom


You are confusing a DNS domain (yourdomain.net ) with a Windows Domain.
They are different things.

To set up e-mail for your domain ( yourdomain.net ) does not require a
Windows Domain.

If you want to host your own mail server, here is list of things you need to
do:
( If you are new to networking, I'd have to say this is an ambitious
enterprise! )

1) Ensure DNS for your domain is working.
In otherwords, you must be able to point names to IP addresses.
If your IP address is dynamic, then you will need to be
using a DDNS provider, and run a DDNS update client.

2) Create an MX record in DNS to point to your mailserver.
Ideally, create an MX10 record pointing to your server,
and an MX20 pointing to a secondary server hosted elsewhere,
perhaps by your ISP.

3) Set up Reverse DNS for your MX machine.
Many MTAs are configured to drop mail from other
MTAs without valid RDNS as spam.

4) Set up your mailserver on the MX machine.
Be *sure* to prohibit relaying.

If the above is gobbledygook, then you need to have your
mail hosted on your behalf. You should talk to your ISP.

--
Best Regards
Ron Lowe
MVP - Windows Networking

[Tom]

>-----Original Message-----
>"Tom" > wrote in message
...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I am quite new to computer networking and am having a
>> problem setting up a domain.
>>
>> I am trying to run a mail server on a Windows XP
>> computer, and need to make the server/computer belong
to
>> my personal domain (mydomain.net). However, when just
>> trying to join the domain I get the error: "A domain
>> controller for the domain mydomain.net could not be
>> contacted."
>>
>> So, I have found out that I could somehow 'install' a
>> Primary Domain Controller on the server and thereby
>> register this domain. Unfortunately I have no idea
where
>> to start trying to install a PDC.
>>
>> Any help would be greatly appreciated,
>> (I need to fix this by midday Friday, UK time)
>> Thanks in advance,
>> Tom
>
>
>You are confusing a DNS domain (yourdomain.net ) with a
Windows Domain.
>They are different things.
>
>To set up e-mail for your domain ( yourdomain.net ) does
not require a
>Windows Domain.
>
>If you want to host your own mail server, here is list
of things you need to
>do:
>( If you are new to networking, I'd have to say this is
an ambitious
>enterprise! )
>
>1) Ensure DNS for your domain is working.
> In otherwords, you must be able to point names to IP
addresses.
> If your IP address is dynamic, then you will need to
be
> using a DDNS provider, and run a DDNS update client.
>
>2) Create an MX record in DNS to point to your
mailserver.
> Ideally, create an MX10 record pointing to your
server,
> and an MX20 pointing to a secondary server hosted
elsewhere,
> perhaps by your ISP.
>
>3) Set up Reverse DNS for your MX machine.
> Many MTAs are configured to drop mail from other
> MTAs without valid RDNS as spam.
>
>4) Set up your mailserver on the MX machine.
> Be *sure* to prohibit relaying.
>
>If the above is gobbledygook, then you need to have your
>mail hosted on your behalf. You should talk to your
ISP.
>
>--
>Best Regards
>Ron Lowe
>MVP - Windows Networking
>
>
>


Thanks Ron,

That clears that problem up, I know that I can update the
MX records quite easily now (once a create my mail
accounts..)

Tom