Tech Tutorial: 302.2 Active Directory Name Resolution (weight: 2) #
Introduction #
In this tutorial, we will delve into configuring and understanding the internal DNS server functionality provided by Samba, which is crucial for Active Directory environments. Samba can function as a Domain Controller that can serve DNS records for a domain, necessary for Active Directory operations. We will explore how to set up Samba as a DNS server in a Linux environment and how to manage DNS records using Samba’s utilities.
Key Knowledge Areas: #
- Understanding Samba as an Active Directory Domain Controller
- Configuring Samba as a DNS server
- Managing DNS records with Samba tools
- Integration with existing DNS infrastructure
Utilities: #
samba-tool
smb.conf
- DNS management commands
Prerequisites #
To follow this tutorial, you should have:
- A Linux machine (Ubuntu Server 20.04 LTS is used in these examples)
- Sufficient privileges (root or sudo)
- Samba installed (Version 4.10 or later is recommended)
Step-by-Step Guide #
Step 1: Installing Samba #
First, ensure that Samba is installed and updated to the latest version:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y samba
Step 2: Configuring Samba as an Active Directory Domain Controller #
Edit the Samba configuration file located at /etc/samba/smb.conf
to set up Samba as a domain controller:
[global]
workgroup = SAMBADOMAIN
realm = SAMBADOMAIN.COM
netbios name = SAMBASERVER
server role = active directory domain controller
dns forwarder = 8.8.8.8
idmap_ldb:use rfc2307 = yes
[netlogon]
path = /var/lib/samba/sysvol/sambadomain.com/scripts
read only = no
[sysvol]
path = /var/lib/samba/sysvol
read only = no
Step 3: Provisioning the Domain #
Use the samba-tool
utility to provision the domain. This step creates the required AD database and DNS entries:
sudo samba-tool domain provision --use-rfc2307 --interactive
Follow the on-screen prompts to configure the domain settings.
Step 4: Managing DNS Records Using samba-tool
#
To add a DNS record:
sudo samba-tool dns add <Your-Samba-Server-IP> sambadomain.com hostname A 192.168.1.10
To delete a DNS record:
sudo samba-tool dns delete <Your-Samba-Server-IP> sambadomain.com hostname A 192.168.1.10
To query DNS records:
sudo samba-tool dns query <Your-Samba-Server-IP> sambadomain.com @ ALL
Step 5: Restart Samba Services #
After making changes to the configuration or DNS records, restart Samba to apply the changes:
sudo systemctl restart samba-ad-dc
Conclusion #
In this tutorial, we covered the basics of setting up Samba as an Active Directory Domain Controller and configuring it to manage DNS records necessary for Active Directory functionality. By understanding the role of Samba in DNS management, you can effectively integrate Linux servers into Windows-centric network environments, providing seamless domain services. Always ensure your Samba installation is secure and up to date to protect your network infrastructure.