Troubleshooting Guide: DNS Name Resolution Failure When Joining a Domain Controller

The process of joining a computer to a domain controller is, therefore, simple when things fall into place. But when you are talking about DNS name resolution failures, it soon becomes annoying. 

This knowledge base will help you in troubleshooting and fixing the DNS name resolution failure.

Let’s get started!

1. Verify Network Connectivity

You can do this by pinging the DNS server and the domain controller.

Open a Command Prompt.

Type ping and press Enter.

Type ping and press Enter.

2. Check DNS Server Configuration

Make sure the machine is set up to utilize the appropriate DNS server. You can accomplish this in the network settings.

Slide the Control Panel open.

Visit the Sharing and Networking Center.

Select the network connection you're utilizing (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).

Select Properties by clicking.

Click Properties after selecting Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).

Ensure that the addresses of the DNS servers are accurate. Ideally, the IP address of the domain controller or another DNS server that can resolve the domain name should function as the DNS server

3. Test DNS Resolution

Next, test the DNS resolution to ensure that the DNS server can resolve the domain controller's name.

Open a Command Prompt.

Type nslookup and press Enter.

This command should return the IP address of the domain controller. If it doesn't, there might be an issue with the DNS server.

4. Check DNS Server Health

If DNS resolution is failing, check the health of the DNS server.

Log in to the DNS server.

Open the DNS Manager console.

Check the server status and ensure that the DNS service is running.

Look for any errors or warnings in the Event Viewer that might indicate issues with the DNS server.

5.Verify Firewall and Security Settings

DNS query blocking by firewalls and security software might result in resolution errors.

Verify the network's and the computer's firewall settings to make sure that DNS queries (port 53) are permitted.

Disable any security software for a short while to determine whether it's a problem.

6. Confirm the Domain Name

Make sure you are using the right domain name. 

Verify the domain name's spelling a second time.

Check to make sure the domain name is current and correctly registered.

7. Review Active Directory Configuration

Issues with Active Directory can also cause DNS resolution failures.

Log in to the domain controller.

Open the Active Directory Users.

Ensure that the domain and domain controller are correctly configured.

Check for any errors or warnings in the Event Viewer related to Active Directory.

8. Restart DNS Client Service

Sometimes, restarting the DNS client service on the computer can resolve DNS resolution issues.

Open a Command Prompt with administrative privileges.

Type net stop dnscache and press Enter.

Type net start dnscache and press Enter.

9. Clear DNS Cache

Clearing the DNS cache can help resolve DNS issues.

Open a Command Prompt with administrative privileges.

Type ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.

Conclusion

That’s all! When joining a domain controller, a number of things can go wrong. These include incorrect DNS name records for the domain controller object in the DNS cache, the domain controller object in the DNS cache referring to the domain controller object in the DNS cache, and more. In order to determine the efficacy of DNS resolution and the health state of the DNS server, one must first verify network connectivity and DNS server configuration choices. 

Here one should not neglect to check the firewall, verify the domain name, and check that Active Directory has been configured appropriately. These steps can be implemented to resolve the failures in DNS name resolution and join the computer to the domain controller.