Sams Teach Yourself MCSE Windows NT Server 4 in 14 Days
(Publisher: Macmillan Computer Publishing)
Author(s): David Schaer, et al
ISBN: 0672311283
Publication Date: 12/15/97

Chapter 11
Configuring and Optimizing NT 4.0 Services

by Walter Glenn and Theresa Hadden

11.1. Overview

This chapter will help you understand the implementation, configuration, and optimization of the major NT 4.0 services. These services include Dynamic Host Resolution Protocol (DHCP), Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS), Domain Naming System (DNS), Internet Information Server (IIS), and Directory Replication. A solid understanding of these services is essential to the success of any NT-based network and represents a major portion of both the Implementing and Supporting NT Server and Implementing and Supporting NT Server in the Enterprise exams.

In addition to configuration guidelines, this chapter helps you evaluate the effects of various services on system and network performance. This information can then be used to tune your system for maximum performance.

11.1.1. Objectives

Microsoft presents the following guidelines regarding these Windows NT services. The guidelines for the Windows NT Server exam include

•  Configuring Windows NT Directory Replicator Service

•  Installing and configuring the Internet Information Server for the WWW

•  Installing the major services of Windows NT, including DNS, WINS, and DHCP

The following are the guidelines for the Windows NT Server Enterprise exam:

•  Implementing TCP/IP (with WINS and DNS) for various situations

•  Installing and configuring multi-protocol routing to serve various functions, including DHCP/BOOTP relay agent

•  Installing and configuring Internet services, including WWW, DNS, and intranet

11.1.2. Fast Facts

The following list of facts is a concise picture of the information presented in this chapter. It acts as both an overview for the chapter and as a study aid to help you do any last-minute cramming.

•  DHCP, or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, is used to assign IP addresses (and sometimes other parameters) automatically to clients on a TCP/IP network.

•  DHCP information always includes an IP address and a subnet mask.

•  DHCP is an extension of the BOOTP protocol, and only routers that can act as BOOTP relay agents can pass DHCP broadcasts.

•  Using the IPCONFIG utility in Windows NT is the quickest way to determine IP lease information.

•  In order to be a DHCP server, a computer must be running Windows NT Server and must be assigned a static IP address.

•  To install the Microsoft DHCP Server service, use the Network applet in the Control Panel.

•  The pool of IP addresses from which DHCP assigns client addresses is known as a scope. IP addresses within a scope can be excluded from the available pool.

•  An IP address is assigned for a period of time that is referred to as a lease, the duration of which is configurable.

•  If you are configuring multiple DHCP servers on a network, Microsoft recommends that each DHCP server should contain a scope consisting of 75 percent of all the IP addresses available on the local subnet. Backup servers should also have a scope containing the remaining 25 percent of available IP addresses for one other subnet.

•  You can reserve an IP address for a specific client that must maintain a consistent IP address.

•  Options that DHCP can pass along to a Microsoft-based DHCP client include the addresses of routers, DNS servers, and WINS servers. Additionally, client node type and NetBIOS scope IDs can also be assigned.

•  Global options are passed along to every DHCP client that obtains an address from that DHCP server. Scope options are passed to every client receiving an IP address from that scope, and override global options. Client options are entered directly at the client and override scope and global options.

•  WINS, or Windows Internet Naming Service, resolves NetBIOS names to IP addresses.

•  WINS needs little configuration after setup and should run automatically.

•  Replication of a WINS database may be accomplished by defining a push partner or a pull partner. The push partner notifies its partner when a set number of changes have occurred. The pull partner asks for changes at preset intervals.

•  You can add static mappings to WINS to enable name resolution of non-WINS clients. You can also import an LMHOSTS file into the static mappings database.

•  LMHOSTS files are text files containing a list of NetBIOS names and IP addresses.

•  HOSTS files resolve host names or fully qualified domain names (FQDN) to IP addresses. HOSTS files are text files listing host names or FQDN and IP addresses.

•  DNS, or Domain Naming System, is a distributed database of IP addresses to host name mappings using a hierarchical name structure.

•  Each DNS server maintains its own zone of authority, under which are domains, in which are records.

•  There are four primary types of domain name servers: Primary Name Servers, which maintain a zone of authority; Secondary Name Servers, which provide backup and redundancy; Master Name Servers, from which Secondary Name Servers download their information; and Caching-Only Name Servers, which only perform and cache queries.

•  Important types of resource records are A records, which are mappings of host names to IP addresses; CNAME records, which are aliases pointing to an existing host; NS records, which point to other name servers; and MX records, which point to mail servers.

•  DNS can be configured to use WINS to resolve NetBIOS names, thereby allowing the use of DHCP assigned IP addresses rather than static IP addresses.

•  Internet Information Server (IIS) is a networking service that runs under Windows NT Server and provides publishing capability for use on the Internet or an intranet.

•  IIS can publish by using WWW, FTP, and Gopher technologies. You can even set up multiple virtual servers on a single computer.

•  Directory Replication is a feature of Windows NT Server that enables you to replicate logon scripts, policy files, and other important files to other computers on your network.