Running Windows Server 2008 and Windows 8 Pro computers (it wasn't my choice to go with 8 pro, so you know)
Ok so here's my problem. A few weeks back I started joining computers to our domain kpg.local however, whenever I tried joining it would give me an error saying either it did not exist or just plain didn't work. So my random solution was to give a computer a static IP address WITH a static DNS using the domain controller's IP address for the DNS and it worked! So that's what I continued doing and things were going well. But we have this network storage device (Synology Rack Station) and every so often it will just disappear from the network devices list in Windows. I had a theory about my TCP/IP settings being part of the problem.
Here is what those STATIC IP settings looked like (this is from my workstation):
IP Settings 1.)
IP: 10.1.10.70
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 10.1.10.1
DNS1: 10.1.10.200 (Server IP address)
DNS2: 75.75.75.75
DNS3: 76.76.76.76
Again, those settings allowed me to FINALLY join the domain. Before I put these settings in, I didn't even get to the window to put my credentials in, it just gave me errors saying it didn't exist or otherwise. So keep in mind, at this point I "found" the way to join the domain.
What we're running into now is only 3 people out of the 8 people, joined to the domain, can see devices listed under Network. I went to one of the computers that can see everything and I noticed they are on the wireless network, not plugged in like everyone else. We have wireless access points, sure, they have no security or anything just pass along an IP from the Comcast Router. So the girl on the wireless could see everything and I realize, she's on DHCP her settings are as follows:
IP Settings 2.)
IP: 10.1.10.19 (End user on wireless DHCP)
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 10.1.10.1
DNS1: 75.75.75.75
DNS2: 76.76.76.76
Now, I went back to my workstation, I have a static IP address listed as IP settings 1.)and I set my IP settings BACK to DHCP and wouldn't ya know it, I could see every single device on the network as well.
Master browser is disabled via GPO on all domain computers by the way, so that shouldn't be the struggle. Something is up with my DNS.
This may or may not be a part of this but it seems like it, I can ping 10.1.10.70 but if I ping the name of that same computer as in ping tech2 it comes back with what looks like a mac address and request timed out.
Luckily mostly everyone is in London on a trip for a trade show so I have some time to get this working, however, for the 8 people that are still here trying to work I can't have things just randomly disappearing from the network.
How many people are completely lost?! I AM!!! I am not going to type anymore, you'll have to just ask questions if you need more information. I tried giving you as much as possible because I'm really not an idiot, I've worked with bigger networks than this, but those already had DHCP servers and DNS servers set up. This place is running right from the Comcast modem handing out IP's.
***Please note that I had to push so incredibly hard just to get the authorization to join people to an actual domain and use active directory. So I really don't think he'll approve me completely redoing the server or setting up an entire DHCP and/or DNS server to fix this issue. As much as I would love that myself, he will want a solution to get this working immediately for the least amount of money and man hours. (He doesn't understand I.T. obviously) ****
I googled for hours and I can't get a specific answer or help, I just need someone to be able to see through my eyes and look at my computer and the server and see what in the hell is wrong with the whole set up.
Thanks,
Justin Gilson