Help needed - DNS on the fritz

[Chromiumdr]

Hi there, was wondering if anyone out there has a suggestion on how to get DNS to work for my client computer...

Host-
P2-266
Asus P2L97
64MB/6GB
Realtek 8139A (Shared)
Realtek 8139C (Home)
Windows ME
ICS Installed
Sharing @Home Cable Modem Service

Client 1
Duron 700
128MB/20GB
Realtek 8139A
Windows ME

Client 2
Athlon 1.1GB
256MB/30GB+17GB
Realtek 8139C
Windows ME/Windows 2000 Pro (Dualboot)

PROBLEM: Host is able to surf the Internet, but the client computers can't. DNS won't resolve on client computers.

OBSERVATIONS:
-Bindings for all adapters are OK
-Entries for (home) and (shared) are present
-Client computers can ping each other
-Client computers can ping host
-Client computers can ping any point on internet (ie. 198.133.219.25)
-Have attempted to use DHCP to detect settings and have manually entered settings for both host and client. Same results.

I am really stumped. Please provide input as to possible solutions. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[glc1]

Have you tried specifying your provider's DNS servers under TCP/IP on the client?

[Chromiumdr]

Yeah. Specified 2 DNS servers both under manual and auto configs.

Is there anywhere else I should look?

[SyberCerfr]

Thot i should add my 2 cents.
I use a program called BIND 4.9.7
only good for NT 4,(windows2000?)but I use on win9x.
There is an updated version for NT,but not win9x,anyways I use this program as my DNS Cache Server.
Once installed my online sites seem to appear faster(load)once I've been to that said site.
It also has an icon in the control panel.

BIND site (http://www.isc.org/.com)

laters...

Syber

[Chromiumdr]

Looks like an interesting idea, although I'd like to try and solve this one without introducing any additional sw or hw (if possible)

[Stef]

Configure your clients to use your ICS host as a gateway, then point them towards your ISP's DNS servers.

[Chromiumdr]

Answered #2 for myself: setting the subnet on the (Home) adapter to 255.255.254.0 has no effect.

[Chromiumdr]

Man. Still out of order --
Maybe posting all the settings might help

Host Computer
Network Settings:

Client for MS Networks
Internet Connection Sharing
RTL 8139(A)Fast Ethernet Card
RTL 8139(A)based Fast Ethernet Card
TCP/IP (Shared) RTL8139(A) based...
IP: (autoassigns correctly)
(manual entry also works)
Gateway :(autoassigns correctly)
(manual entry also works)
Subnet: 255.255.254.0 (autoassigned)
255.255.255.0 (manually assigned)
DNS: (disabled when DHCP is used)
(machine name, domain and 2 servers entered in manual IP assignment)
WINS: (Use DHCP for WINS resolution)
DHCP: (autoassigned)
TCP/IP (Shared) RTL8139(A) Fast...
IP: 192.168.0.1
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
TCP/IP -> ICS
ICS -> ICS
File and print sharing for MS networks
Client 1:
Client for MS Networks
Dial Up Networking
Realtek 8139(A) Fast Ethernet
TCP/IP -> Realtek 8139(A) Fast Ethernet
IP: (Autoassigns 192.168.0.x)
(Manual 192.168.0.2)
Gateway :(autoassigns 192.168.0.1)
(manual entry also used)
Subnet: 255.255.255.0 (autoassigned)
255.255.255.0 (manually assigned)
DNS: (autoassigns 192.168.0.1)
(manually set to disabled)
(manual entry of 2 DNS servers)
WINS: (Use DHCP for WINS resolution)
DHCP: (autoassigned)
TCP/IP -> DUN
File Sharing for MS Networks

Client 2:
Client for MS Networks
Realtek 8139(A) Fast Ethernet
TCP/IP -> Realtek 8139(A) Fast Ethernet
IP: (Autoassigns 192.168.0.x)
(Manual 192.168.0.3)
Gateway :(autoassigns 192.168.0.1)
(manual entry also used)
Subnet: 255.255.255.0 (autoassigned)
255.255.255.0 (manually assigned)
DNS: (autoassigns 192.168.0.1)
(manually set to disabled)
(manual entry of 2 DNS servers)
WINS: (Use DHCP for WINS resolution)
DHCP: (autoassigned)
File Sharing for MS Networks

2 questions, then:
1. Using DHCP to assign addresses, the DNS server for the client points to the host at 192.168.0.1 Is this supposed to happen? Or am I supposed to have the clients pointed to whichever DNS servers the host is currently using?

2. Is the problem possibly with the autoassignment of 255.255.254.0 as a submask?

[Chromiumdr]

Update: Upgraded to Win 2K Professional on my server box. ICS worked first try!

Still curious as to why the disconnect on Win ME's version...