help - no DNS entry(Long reply)

[Kenneth Roberts]

> On Mon, 9 Jun 1997 16:50:16 -0700 mary_bush at email.mesd.k12.or.us (Mary Bush)
> wrote:
> 
> > Can anybody tell me what it means when there are repeat "no DNS" entries -
> > not just a couple of busy, unavailable URL's,  but 15 in a row?> 
<snip>

>>It happens at all times of day.  Could this be a
> > problem
> > with our server?
> > A number of people within our building and on our Network, have
> > experienced this during the last couple of weeks.
> > I'm running Netscape 3.0, Windows 95.  Our LAN is on a Novell server, and
> > our web servers are Windows NT.


Netscape comes up with the message anytime there are connection problems
or Domain Name Server problems.  You may want to determine if the
problem is one with Netscape, your physical connection, your network
connection, or the domain name server you use.

Suggestions:
1. Try accessing sites by IP address instead.  If you can access the
site by IP address, but not by its name, you know the problem is most
likely with your domain name server.  Feel free to use our site.  The IP
is 206.106.138.114.  See directions below for an easy way to determine
another site's IP address.

2. To determine if you have a network connection or physical connection
problem, use the TRACERT command in Windows 95.  I am not 100% sure this
will work with your network connection, but you may want to give it  a
shot.  I am not familiar with how Novell connects to the Internet.  Try
this when you know your connection is working to be sure.

  *) Access the DOS prompt.
  *) Type "tracert <IP address or domain name>" while connected to the
Internet.

This will show you the route that is used to access a particular site. 
If you use the domain name(and your Domain Name Server is up), it will
show you the IP address as well as the route.  If you find that a
particular site has asterisks, the problem is there.  You may be able to
determine if the problem is with your Internet service provider by
looking at the machine address where the connection is failing.  If you
get no immediate response from tracert, the problem may be a physical
connection problem(or maybe a problem with your LAN connecting to the
Internet?).  If tracert is connecting OK, and Netscape is still having a
problem, it may be Netscape.

I hope this helps.  Good luck.

-- 
Kenneth Roberts, Technology Specialist
Princeton Public Library
   email:roberts at princeton.lib.nj.us


Any opinions or views expressed are mine alone and do not
necessarily reflect those of the Princeton Public Library.