I have a small network running Windows Server 2012 servers and Windows 7 clients. Right now I'm trying to setup DNS with an AD-Integrated Zone. I've configured my local machine, which is not a domain member, with the correct DNS server IPs, set it to register in DNS with the appropriate DNS Suffix, and to use that suffix in the DNS registration. That part worked great. I also have several member servers as part of the domain that are also registered in DNS. So here's the crux of the issue right now.
When I try to do an NSLookup on the hostname of one of the member servers from the workgroup client I get the following:
C:\Users\User>nslookup hostname
Server: unknown
Address: 192.168.1.26
*** Unknown can't find hostname: Non-Existent domain
When I ping from the same workgroup client, it succeeds by adding the DNS suffix to the hostname automatically.
C:\Users\User>ping hostname
Pinging hostname.domain.com [192.168.1.28] with 32 bytest of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.28: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.28: bytes=32 time=<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.28: bytes=32 time=<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.28: bytes=32 time=<1ms TTL=128
Now, when I do an NSLookUp from another member server
C:\Users\Administrator>nslookup hostname
Server: Unknown
Address: 192.168.1.26
Name: hostname.domain.com
Address: 192.168.1.28
So I've compared the network DNS settings from both machines and the only difference is the non-domain client workstation has the extra box checked that says "Use this connection's DNS suffix in DNS registration". If I don't have that checked the client won't register in the DNS server. I have added the domain.com suffix one the workgroup client machine in the "DNS suffix for this connection:" field.
I've seen several references to reverse lookup zones causing problems like this, however I have setup a reverse lookup zone and I made sure a ptr record was created for the hostname in question.
My question would be, how do I fix this, what setting am I missing?
EDIT:
I have since setup DHCP on one of the servers and turned off DHCP on the router/gateway. After doing that and renewing my IP I now have flat name resolution. I can't imaging what setting is different however it works now. Does this make more sense?