Conquering the Domain (and Its Hidden Ropes)

Conquering the Domain

 (and Its Hidden Ropes)

Day two of our server saga presented a formidable challenge: joining a computer to the newly minted domain. But as we soon discovered, the path was not as straightforward as the trusty "Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Windows 2000 Server in 21 Days" book might have suggested.

Here's the twist: the book focused solely on the installation of Windows 2000 Server, leaving the crucial realm of Active Directory setup a mystery. Additionally, it lacked any guidance on verifying the success of this invisible domain. This, it seemed, was a text for the server-savvy, not the enthusiastic novice.

Undeterred, we ventured beyond the book's pages. The quest for knowledge led us down a labyrinthine path of websites (too numerous to mention here!), each offering a piece of the puzzle. With their combined wisdom, we managed to not only set up Active Directory but also verify its functionality through DNS testing.

The Mac and the DNS Maze

Joining our vintage Mac to this newfound domain turned out to be a DNS entanglement. The DCPROMO wizard, while helpful in configuring Active Directory, neglected to create the necessary folders for the Mac's forward lookup. This seemingly simple fix proved elusive at first, leading us down a rabbit hole of troubleshooting. Reinventing the wheel – or in this case, the domain – seemed tempting. We even toyed with reinstalling Windows 2000 Server based on a rumor about single-name domains causing issues. Thankfully, sanity prevailed, and we stuck with our "local.test.mac" domain name, perfectly suited for our immediate purpose of Mac integration.

A Moment of Triumph (and a Mountain Yet to Climb)

Finally, the moment arrived! Our classic Mac, a testament to Apple's design prowess, was successfully integrated into the Windows Active Directory domain. A small victory, but a significant one nonetheless. It marked a turning point in this multi-boot odyssey.

The journey continues. We've learned valuable lessons about venturing beyond the surface of instructional materials and the importance of online communities. The server now stands, a dual-booted behemoth, ready to shepherd our motley crew of operating systems into a (hopefully) harmonious domain. Stay tuned as we tackle the next challenges and explore the possibilities this multi-boot menagerie presents!