Question : Please check my NIC configuration

I have a server running 2003(IP: 192.168.0.1) and three PCs on XP Pro, all hooked up with an external Belkin 4-port router (IP:192.168.2.1). The router assigns IPs through DHCP and so does the server. The current NIC  configuration for the server is:

IP address i've manually assigned as 192.168.0.1 (as the router assigns a different IP from its subnet), the gateway i've assigned as 192.168.2.1 (address of router) and DNS pointing to itself (192.168.0.1).

The rest of the PCs i've assigned 2 IPs each one which the router allways assigns and the other which i assign through the server. The gateway i've set at 192.168.2.1(router) AND 192.168.0.1(server) and the DNS entry i've pointed to the server and the router as well ie. 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.2.1.

These settings,although sometimes they work are a little unpredictable especially with the internet connection. So i'm unsure whether the're correct (although i'm sure they're not) There's a conflict between the router and the server so my questionis basically whats the best setting(s) for using an external router(that issues IPs with DHCP) and  with windows server 2003 (that also does the same.)

Hope this all makes sense,
Thanks in advance!

Max

Answer : Please check my NIC configuration

Hi,

As already steven said, the situation is a little bit confusing.
If you are trying to make a network on which 3 PCs are able to connect to server and also to internet, I would suggest to do in this way:

Put all five devices in the same IP network
 server 192.168.0.1/255.255.255.0
router 192.168.0.250/255.255.255.0 (or 192.168.0.2 or whatever is free)
leave the PC's to get IPs from DHCP server (for such small number of PCs you could configure IP settings also manualy, but for now leave this as it is.)
Disable one DHCP server. I propose that you use servers DHCP and disable routers DHCP server. Set the scope of the servers DHCP server to 192.168.0.11 - 192.168.0.100.
In DHCP server set also that the router is on 192.168.0.250 (or 192.168.0.2 or whatever you selecter earlier) and DNS server on 192.168.0.1.
On your server you have to configure also the DNS forwarders in the DNS server. Point them to your ISP DNS servers IPs.

When you power up your PC it will get IP from the DHCP scope and also DNS and gateway IP. If you will have need to comunicate with internet, PC will know that is located behind the router. For resolving DNS queries PC will contact DNS server on your server. For local queries that will be good. If you will need to resolve internet queries, PC will contact also your server which will redirect (forward) queries to your ISP DNS servers.
Do not forget to configure your server for internet access to work your DNS server properly. Gateway is your router IP, DNS server is your servers IP.

Regards, Davorin