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Sometimes I cannot access servers by their \\servername. The only way I can access them is by their full DNS name (servername.domain.local). I am connected via VPN and my w2k3 primary DNS server is the first one being handed out. Im not sure if its something with Cox in Phx because we have a small office connected and they have to use the full DNS name all the time.

any help appreciated

I think you need to have a WINS server to be able to use UNC names across a router/gateway, but I could be wrong. 'Cat?

Don't need WINS, just DNS should do it. Well...lemme rephrase that....Win2K or XP clients don't need WINS, only DNS, whereas Win9X clients need WINS. Win9X clients should have WINS even for local networks...to keep broadcasts to a minimum.

Did you have bandwidth allocated to the VPN? You know in the Sonics...you can divy up your bandwidth and assure that the VPN gets primary attention, instead of default...where it gets splitup according to whatever needs there are.

The DC should be the one and only DNS server handed out, you mention it's the first one....if you have any second DNS servers...what are they? ISP DNS? In which case I'd remove that. Or a second DC on the network, which I'd think would be OK.

I havent changed the bandwidth allocation. How much bandwidth should I allocat for the VPN? half my total? will it only use this much bandwidth?

I have my ISP DNS servers second and third.

Play around, give a high percentage at first, like 70% or so.

Might wanna try yanking the ISP DNS servers, wonder if it queries the DC DNS, doesn't get a response fast enough, so moves onto the 2nd DNS, which naturally wouldn't know about your LAN setup.

How many satellite PCs? Give a shot with an lmhost entry?

I have about 25 satellites PCs, 10 which dont have xp pro so I can remote into the PC.

Ill try removing the DNS servers now.

Weren't you running SBS at mothership?

I was running SBS but I have seperate servers now.

YeOldeStonecat wrote: ISP DNS? In which case I'd remove that.

That was going to be my first guess, having dealt with a similar situation when I was first inherited my current network..

As YOSC already touched on, those ISP DNS servers should only be used as external forwarders configured within the DNS server properties. As far as the LAN clients are concerned, the DC should be their only DNS server. That way the clients don't end up looking outside your network while trying to resolve internal hosts.

Still not working. I havent played with the bandwidth settings yet, I just dont wanna mess up anything when im gaming at home.

I was just messing around with a sonicwall in new mexico and I couldnt get the name to resolve. I only had the private DNS server listed and when I did a DNS name lookup from the sonicwall the server that it used to check the name was my DNS server. I resolve with full DNS for both DNS lookup and ping only, this is a qwest DSL connection.

editing the host file works but I dont want to do that on every remote PC we have.

I don't have much experience with SonicWalls, but if this isn't a bandwidth setting issue:

Are you using dynamic DNS? w/ scavenging?

Can you do a reverse lookup?

Kinda silly, but port 53 isn't getting blocked along the way anywhere right?

You should be able to add the host records and/or PTR records manually to the server instead of modifying host files on each local machine..

ill check into that koldchillah. 53 is not blocked, I see host entries in DNS server.

When I set the available WAN bandwidth this is my upstream bandwidth correct?

So I changed the bandwidth last night and today I rebooted and it seems to be working. I will see how long it works.

Is my WAN bandwidth susposed to be my upstream?

Hmm not a bandwidth issue because its doing it again

my DNS server is set for secure updates only.

Secure updates only is fine. It probably has something to do with the VPN configuration and how it handles DNS rather than the actual configuration on the server, but again, I'm not familiar with the details of how SonicWall VPN's work..

What model SonicWall & what VPN client version are you using?

Sonicwall 2040 at corporate, tele3 SP at 2 of the offices. Tele3 SP has 6606 firmware and the sonic has sonicOS 2.0 I think. I have the Tele 3 at 2 locations and the TZ 170 SP in about 5 offices.

I added 2 of the PCs into the domain and I dont have problems using UNC name now, I didnt add my home PC to the domain though. None of my remote PCs have been added to the domain yet but they dont have problems accessing servers by UNC name.