Question : SBS 2003 Server issues - possibly DNS?

Current setup is 5 workstations (all XP Pro SP2) and one server SBS 2003 with only one NIC. We have a static IP from our ISP. Our network topolgy is this: Internet > DSL Modem > Router (DHCP) > Server.

All workstaions can see eachother on the network (ping and network places). On the server, I can ping all workstaions see them in network places. I CANNOT however ping the server from any of the workstations. Currently I can login to the domain using cached profiles but cannot access mapped drives / shared folders on the server. When creating a new account using the Server Mangment page then attemping to login to the server I get a 'cannot login, domain controller is unavailable' error.

Ipconfig results for a WORKSTATION are as follows:
--------------------------------------------------------
Windows IP Configuration

        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Debbie
        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . : EBR.local
        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : EBR.local
     
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetXtreme 57xx Gigabit
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0F-1F-E7-E7-6A
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
        Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.15
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
        DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

Ipconfig results for the SERVER are as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------
Windows IP Configuration

   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : server
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . : EBR.local
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : EBR.local

Ethernet adapter Server Local Area Connection:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom NetXtreme 5721 Gigabit

   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-12-3F-6E-87-7E
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.2
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1
   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.2.1

All machines can connect to the internet and I am able to drop files
from the server onto workstations, but again not vice versa.

I have about 16hours to get this working. Ideas? I'm almost sure
its DNS related.

Thanks in advance.

Answer : SBS 2003 Server issues - possibly DNS?

In any windows domain, you have to have the clients/members of windows domain pointing their DNS server to a DC/the PDC.

You could configure your router (192.168.2.1) to use the DNS from your server, blah configure it the router DHCP.... blah blah.

I prefer to use the Server, setup authoritive DHCP on that -- this allows me to configure static IPs for stupid devices on the network (printers/network UPS/Managed Hubs) and configure all the different options upto RIS.  So disable the DHCP on the router.  Configure the DNS on the DHCP to point to your server.

Refer to the first sentence.  Domain Members have to be able to find your EBR.local domain and using your router as dns won't do that.... you can set your router as backup dns (faster, but you need to configure it to use your SBS as primary DNS).

Refer to the first sentence.