Mac OS X (all ver) has issues with DNS resolution IPv6 with SBS-2008

Some time back, the SBS-2008 my client has in their office is causing some DNS resolution issues with IPv6 reverse lookup. As such, some times the MAC OS X'es are unable to resolve DNS entries to get connected to the mail server.

A work-around my colleague gave was to set-up VPN connection as PPTP VPN using RAS gives out a separate IPv4 address, and is able to resolve IPv4 DNS requests without using the IPv6. 

While this is an easy work-around, the easier method is to simply set-up hosts file to perform the mapping.

Unfortunately for him, he was unable to locate the hosts file to edit in the mac os X. I did some search in the web and encounter this blog post... (here) I don't wish to re-invent the wheel, but I thought I'll post it here anyway, with some pictures to guide my readers and my team how to make the changes.

Follow my print-screens below. It should be self-explanatory.

just press CTRL+o (Omega) to save.

press Enter to save the changes.

You are good to go! 

Now for the biggie.. the server needs to be fixed with the IPv6 issue.

This is the issue:

I ensured that all settings are right:

 

After hunting through different blogs, i found one here and I realize this guy faced the similar problem and fixed the issue!

the mistake i made was to create 8.c.2.f.0 where I should have done it like this:

 

 Once added with an AAA record, the PTR can be added.

  

Resolution now works.. but the problem still persists!

Shucks! 

 

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A Weird Occurence of DNS problem faced on an SBS-2008 with some Windows PCs

A weird occurrence of an SBS-2008 environment where locally connected users are unable to resolve DNS even though network services are working well on the server.

This user encountered a similar issue as mine:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Server/Windows_Server_2008/Q_26804178.html#a39516961

To those of you who has no Expert Exchange account, I have printed and saved this article here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/170510614/DNS-issue-faced-with-Windows-SBS-2008-in-the-Local-Area-Network

I am using SBS-2008, updated with the latest patches.

One fine day my clients in their office are unable to resolve DNS addresses. However, all incoming connections including VPN-PPTP were working well.

My usual solution was to restart the server, and that should fix it. Initially we thought it was due to the Antivirus software installed on the server.

We manage to figure another way out, disable network adapter, and re-enabling it will resolve the issue.However, we couldn't do that all the time, as it will disconnect our remote support session. Restarting the server was a better choice for us.

Observations:
We ran nslookup on the server, it showed an ip v6 NS. It can resolve names properly.
We ran nslookup on the workstations, it showed ip v4 NS, which is the correct and default NS, and we couldn't resolve the DNS. We could still maintain a connection via teamviewer, but simply not resolve any DNS when browsing sites.

Work-around solution:
After disabling IPv6 on the network adapter on the server, we were able to resolve DNS entries fine on the server and the clients.

In addition, we were also able to connect to the internet on both server and clients. I do realize that Exchange might encounter problems, so I turned IPv6 back on again in the server network adapter and problem was resolved.

I believe this will come back again.. and I don't think the above is a real-solution yet, but it's a good enough solution for now to resolve this issue quickly.