I am running a Linux server with SUSE Linux Professional 9.3. I have a home network with Linux and Win XP clients. My server is configured as a PDC because I want to share the server's resources. I am running a Samba server.

My server is able to connect to the Internet via a router and is also able to ping all the other machines. Two way pinging is working.

However, none of the clients are able to connect to the server. The server is not being recognized as a PDC.

When my Windows XP machine tries to connect to my domain, here is the response:

A domain controller for the domain mydomain could not be contacted.

DNS name does not exist
(Error code 0x0000232B RCODE_NAME_ERROR)

DNS was queried for the SRV resource record to locate a domain controller for the domain mydomain
The query was for the SRV record for _ldap._tcp.dc._msdcs.mydomain


I have used YAST to configure the server. Winssupport is set to yes. I have also turned on Netbios over TCP/IP on my XP client. I have setup users using the smbpasswd setup. However all of this is no use if the PDC is not being recognized as such.

I have been fighting this problem for weeks and it is extremely frustrating. Anybody have any ideas ?

srini2001

You don't really need a Domain if all you have are 2 PCs. Wether you have a Windows server or a Linux Samba server setting up a Domain can be complex and frustrating and isn't necessary for the average home user who just wants to share files and printers between machines.

If you still want to keep trying it have a look at http://www.techsoup.org/fb/index.cfm...Topic&id=60565 and http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp

Tkedwards,

Thanks for the reply. I actually have about 7 machines at home, so I do need to use the server. Also I have a couple of homes and I want to be able to VPN them later. I am making the switch currently to Linux from Microsoft and I want to be an all Linux shop. The activation process of Microsoft has finally turned me off.......I can't see myself buying 14 copies of XP licenses, even though we are only two at home!!!

Any new suggestions I can try ?

Srini 2001

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Netw..._20890765.html (scroll down to see the answers)
http://board.iexbeta.com/lofiversion...hp/t48801.html
http://www.linuxcompatible.org/thread30637-1.html

To summarise:
Disable any firewall/security software on the XP box and see if it works then
You might need to either:
a) Run a DNS server on your samba server so it can resolve the names
b) make sure your XP box is pointing to the WINS server on your Samba server in its TCP/IP settings
c) Put entries for the samba server in your hosts and lmhosts files on the XP box

we had a similar issue on server and the things we did to solve it:
1) Checked DNS for problems

2) vi /etc/samba/smb.conf :
[global]
workgroup = <NTdomain name>

When joining the clients to the domain use this <NTDomain name>

3) Also add entry to the Primary DNS & WINS server IP on your client machines

4) see if the service called "nmb" is running !

on redhat:

service nmb status
service smb restart

on Suse:

rcnmb status
rcsmb start
rcnmb start

To everybody who saw this question

I have solved the problem.

Windows XP clients were always looking for LDAP.

So I upgraded to Samba 3.0 by using SUSE enterprise Linux 9.0. I installed the LDAP server and CA while installing Linux. After that I just followed the instructions and sure enough I can now sign in to the server and everything is being recognised.

If windows wants LDAP, let it have it.!!!!!!

Srini