Re: Multi-homed Active Directory Domain Controller

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From: Herb Martin (news_at_LearnQuick.com)
Date: 01/14/05 

Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2005 17:19:29 -0600

"Josh R. Andrews" <jra@kccllc.com> wrote in message
news:#sjRE9o#EHA.4028@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> We currently have two domain controllers in our domain.
>
> One of these domain controllers is multi-homed. It has two NICs, facing
> on the same subnet.

Well, that frequently doesn't work well and usually
accomplishes litte.

If you have some reason for two NICs on the same
subnet/segment then you really should buy a set with
a "teaming NIC driver" that allows them to function
correctly in tandem.

> They each have their own IP address. Say for
> argument's sake one is 192.168.1.15 and the other is 192.168.1.20. The
> DC auto-registers both IPs in DNS.

Yes, and that may not be a great idea.

> My question is whether this is either "bad design" or just kind of

Yes.

> questionable -- i.e. leading to wierd slowness in the domain, NetBIOS
> problems (I know it's supposed to be going away in W2K3 but we all know
> it still pops up in the oddest places) or DNS name resolution issues.

Yes, it leads to problems in most cases.

> I am thinking about getting rid of one of the NICs and just having one
> IP address for the DC, but wanted to check first if the multi-homed
> setup is a known boondoggle.

Do it.
(Or go the true teaming NIC route.)

BTW, what do you think the 2-NICs are doing for you?
(What's the real goal of having them this way?) 

-- 
Herb Martin
>
> Thanks,
>
> Josh

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