Hello We have a Windows Server 2003, with two network interfaces: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- C:\Documents and Settings\adm.reto.giezendanne>ipconfig /all Windows IP Configuration Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : erpr3t21 Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . : intranet.mycompany.net Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : intranet.mycompany.net backup.mycompany.net Windows IP Configuration Ethernet adapter Service LAN: Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : intranet.mycompany.net IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 172.23.253.210 Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.192 Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 172.23.253.193 Ethernet adapter Backup LAN: Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : backup.mycompany.net IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 10.1.1.47 Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.252.0 Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I can resolve the reverse lookup for the "Backup LAN" with "nslookup" correctly: C:\Documents and Settings\reto>nslookup 10.1.1.47 Server: ch02dc01.intranet.mycompany.net Address: 172.31.31.31 Name: erpr3t21.backup.mycompany.net Address: 10.1.1.47 But if i try to resolve the the IP with "ping -a 10.1.1.47" the wrong dns suffix are displayed: C:\Documents and Settings\reto>ping -a 10.1.1.47 Pinging erpr3t21.INTRANET.mycompany.net [10.1.1.47] with 32 bytes of data Reply from 10.1.1.47: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128 Reply from 10.1.1.47: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128 Why this is resolved differently? Thanks for any help. Regards giezi4

Hi giezi4, Thanks for posting here. Have you added PTR record in reverse lookup zones on DNS server and point it to records erpr3t21 where in both zones? Could you also verify the DNS cache on this server by performing “ipconfig /displaydns” and also post the result here? Meanwhile, what if test with emptying the primary DNS suffix entry on this server , would this situation persist ? Could you also discuss why you configure this server multihomed ? actually it’s not a recommended way. Thanks. Tiger LiPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Hi Tiger Li Thanks for your answer. 1. The PRT records for both zones are correct. 2. Sure, here is the output: ------------------------------------------------------------------- C:\Documents and Settings\reto>ipconfig /displaydns Windows IP Configuration 1.0.0.127.in-addr.arpa ---------------------------------------- Record Name . . . . . : 1.0.0.127.in-addr.arpa. Record Type . . . . . : 12 Time To Live . . . . : 0 Data Length . . . . . : 8 Section . . . . . . . : Answer PTR Record . . . . . : localhost ch05dc02.intranet.mycompany.net ---------------------------------------- Record Name . . . . . : CH05DC02.intranet.mycompany.net Record Type . . . . . : 1 Time To Live . . . . : 1171 Data Length . . . . . : 4 Section . . . . . . . : Answer A (Host) Record . . . : 172.31.31.28 http ---------------------------------------- Name does not exist. ch02dc01.intranet.mycompany.net ---------------------------------------- Record Name . . . . . : CH02DC01.intranet.mycompany.net Record Type . . . . . : 1 Time To Live . . . . : 1506 Data Length . . . . . : 4 Section . . . . . . . : Answer A (Host) Record . . . : 172.31.31.31 localhost ---------------------------------------- Record Name . . . . . : localhost Record Type . . . . . : 1 Time To Live . . . . : 0 Data Length . . . . . : 4 Section . . . . . . . : Answer A (Host) Record . . . : 127.0.0.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. I have removed the primary DNS suffix and the resolution ist now correct(!) with ping -a ! ---------------------- C:\Documents and Settings\reto>ping -a 10.1.1.47 Pinging erpr3t21.backup.mycompany.net [10.1.1.47] with 32 bytes of data: Reply from 10.1.1.47: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128 ---------------------- The server is joined to the domain "intranet.mycompany.net". What are the drawbacks to run a server without primary DNS suffix in a Active Directory environment? 4. The network 10.1.1.0/22 is a backup network to backup all servers. we want no interruptions on the service network during the backup timeframe. Thanks and regards Reto

Hi Reto, Thanks for update. Yes, we don’t suggest modify this entry in production environment, so you may modify it back. In this scenario , you may take look the " Important " paragraph in the link below to achieve the goal: Configuring multiple names http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc759552(WS.10).aspx Thanks. Tiger Li TechNet Subscriber Support in forum If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.comPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Hi Tiger Li Thanks for your answer. Ok, good to know. We have changed the Primary DNS Suffix back to intranet.mycompany.net. But the problem with "ping -a" is back and resolve 10.1.1.47 to erpr3t21.INTRANET.mycompany.net instead of erpr3t21.BACKUP.mycompany.net. Does ping -a always use the primary suffix? Thanks and regards Reto

Hi Reto, Thanks for update. >Does ping -a always use the primary suffix? That’s right, because you have configured PTR records for this host in both reverse lookup zones, system will first return the record that same DNS suffix of primary suffix entry. In your scenario I’d suggest to follow the introduction in the article that posted in my last reply to modify system settings. Thanks. Tiger Li TechNet Subscriber Support in forum If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.comPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Hi Tiger Li Ok, thanks for your explenation! Regards Reto