Created CNAME but can't see shared drives

**TheTruthMissPigg** · April 27th, 2011, 10:37 AM

I am upgrading a server so want a temporary redirect to a backup without paths changing.
Have set up a CNAME alias on Windows Server 2003 in DNS and can ping the new Name and also type \\server1 into the run box and it shows up as a blank explorer window with no drives. The thing is I have 5 shared drives in the new system all with full access rights given to my PC.
Anyone know what silly mistakes I've made?

**GroundZero3** · April 27th, 2011, 10:41 AM

Can you access the share if you type \\server1\sharename ?

**TheTruthMissPigg** · April 27th, 2011, 10:46 AM

No I can't. If I put the IP address of the target server in (\\25.##.###.###) then the drives show up.
I'm lost.

**TheTruthMissPigg** · April 27th, 2011, 10:47 AM

If I ping server1 it shows as the target IP so the CNAME is correctly setup in that respect!

**GroundZero3** · April 27th, 2011, 10:47 AM

Assuming you did this in active directory did you give it some time to replicate? Did you do an ipconfig /flushdns on the box that doesn't do DNS resolution?

**TheTruthMissPigg** · April 27th, 2011, 11:03 AM

To be fair I didn't give it time to replicate. or do ipconfig/flushdns.
I'll do that and check in the morning.
Thank you.

**GroundZero3** · April 27th, 2011, 11:06 AM

Replication takes about 15 minutes to occur in an AD environment

Once you do the flushdns it will clear the dns server cache and access the DNS server for resolutions, if DNS was setup right you should be able to access by DNS name

**GroundZero3** · April 27th, 2011, 11:13 AM

I just noticed you said you created a CNAME entry. Any particular reason why you did this? For local DNS resources usually just create a simple A record

**TheTruthMissPigg** · April 27th, 2011, 11:44 AM

My theory is this (Most of it guesswork)
I have copied 4 drives over to the new spare server (which were shared and I would like them to be again). They used to be accessed through \\Fileshare\C$ (also d:, e:, and f

.
So in DNSMGMT I have created an CNAME entry which directs \\Fileshare\C$ to the \Spare\C$
In my book, now I can ping \\Fileshare and it shows as the IP of \\Spare.
\\Fileshare is now off.
I have no idea what I am doing! What would you have done?

**Nude_Lewd_Man** · April 27th, 2011, 04:17 PM

Just gonna ask a quick question, but you have actually enabled File sharing....haven't you...? I'm sure you've also checked that the firewall is letting the packets through....

**TheTruthMissPigg** · April 27th, 2011, 06:46 PM

Will check. Sure it is.
What is the quickest way to get it propogated around the system when switching it on? Just incase I have overlooked it.

**Nude_Lewd_Man** · April 28th, 2011, 12:45 AM

Not sure how/what you mean....but both of the things I mentioned are virtually instantaneous... Actually, you might need to install/configure the FnP services/thing, which should take less than 5-10 minutes, just need to go into the "Manage My Server" doofrey (technical term,,!

) and add it..

Let us know how you get on…

**TheTruthMissPigg** · April 28th, 2011, 03:29 AM

Well, it's a mystery to me. All of the settings look the same when comparing the "Manage Shared Folder" screen.
Assume fnp is turned on as I have setup as a file server.

**TheTruthMissPigg** · April 28th, 2011, 03:45 AM

Now. If I go to look at the server in explorer \\Fileshare I can see the share. Getting properties of this (via right click) it confirms it is the Fileshare.

If I bring it up using the \\Spare alias it shows a blank explorer window and a right click properties gives "The proerties for this item are not available"

**Nude_Lewd_Man** · April 28th, 2011, 04:09 AM

Are you still using the CNAME entry, or have you tried using an A record..? Just wondering whether this could make a difference - as a CNAME is a bit of a different animal than an A record...
CNAME record - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**TheTruthMissPigg** · April 28th, 2011, 04:49 AM

Thanks Nude_Lewd_Man. Still using a CNAME record and this is why.
Of course still based on guess work, but I thought it may be an issue if I used an A record for when I put the original server back on as they would conflict due to having effectively 2 A records. Am I well out on that?

When doing NSLOOKUP FileShare get:-

Server W2KDNS1.up.uk
Address 25.##.###.###

Name: Spare.up.uk
Address 25.##.###.###
Aliases: FileShare.up.uk

**TheTruthMissPigg** · April 28th, 2011, 05:26 AM

OK, now I've deleted the CNAME record and tried as an A Record including PTR.

I can now ping FileShare2 correctly.

When trying to view through explorer at \\FileShare2 it shows an empty screen the same as when I had a CANME.

Any ideas?

**Nude_Lewd_Man** · April 28th, 2011, 08:45 AM

One thing I would do to test would be to set up a new A record for the primary FnP server, and check that that works...then change the A record to point to the temp FnP server and try again...

If that works, once you're ready to take the primary/original server offline you can just change the A record for the duration of the upgrade/etc that you're doing...