Networking with Windows Server 2003

Setup Network Users in Windows 2003 Server

How to configure DNS for Internet access:

How to Start with a Stand-Alone Server Running Windows Server 2003
The stand-alone server running Windows Server 2003 becomes a DNS server for your network. In the first step, you assign this server a static Internet Protocol (IP) address. DNS servers must not use dynamically assigned IP addresses because a dynamic change of address could cause clients to lose contact with the DNS server.

Step 1: Configure TCP/IP

1. Click Start, point to Control Panel, point to Network Connections, and then click Local Area Connection.
2. Click Properties.
3. Click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.
4. Click the General tab.
5. Click Use the following IP address, and then type the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway address in the appropriate boxes.
6. Click Advanced, and then click the DNS tab.
7. Click Append primary and connection specific DNS suffixes.
8. Click to select the Append parent suffixes of the primary DNS suffix check box.
9. Click to select the Register this connection's addresses in DNS check box.
   
   Note that DNS servers running Windows Server 2003 must point to themselves for DNS. If this server needs to resolve names from its Internet service provider (ISP), you must configure a forwarder. Forwarders are discussed in the How to Configure Forwarders section later in this article.
10. Click OK three times.
    
    NOTE: If you receive a warning from the DNS Caching Resolver service, click OK to dismiss the warning. The caching resolver is trying to contact the DNS server, but you have not finished configuring the server.

Step 2: Install Microsoft DNS Server

1. Click Start, point to Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.
2. Click Add or Remove Windows Components.
3. In the Components list, click Networking Services (but do not select or clear the check box), and then click Details.
4. Click to select the Domain Name System (DNS) check box, and then click OK.
5. Click Next.
6. When you are prompted, insert the Windows Server 2003 CD-ROM into the computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
7. On the Completing the Windows Components Wizard page, click Finish when Setup is complete.
8. Click Close to close the Add or Remove Programs window.

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Best practices for DNS client settings in Windows 2000/2003 Server: 
 http://support.microsoft.com/?id=825036