Can I use a Windows Server 2003 Domain Controller but my home router for DNS?

Posted by NetworkingWannabie on Server Fault See other posts from Server Fault or by NetworkingWannabie
Published on 2009-12-12T10:55:22Z Indexed on 2010/04/13 11:03 UTC
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Hi All

Probably easiest to start with a description of my current setup, which works (oh, and this is a home setup not an office or anything):

I have an ADSL modem with a static IP address (192.168.128.1), and its DHCP capability is disabled. I have a permanently powered up Windows Server 2003 machine with a fixed IP (192.168.128.2) which provides my domain controller, dhcp, and dns. The default gateway for everything is my ADSL modem everything is setup to use the WS2003 machine as the primary DNS with the ADSL modem as Secondary DNS just in case the server goes down (everything includes the server itself). Lastly, just in case it's relevant, I have my DHCP leases set to infinite (or whatever the right term is). Everything is pretty hunky dory.

Except, that is, for the fact that my server is ALWAYS on, and it isn't always used, so I'm burning juice that I don't need to - my server burns around 120W which isn't immense but isn't irrelevant either, so I'd like to put it into a stand-by state when it isn't being used (the more standby the better) and then get the clients to wake it up.

Am I correct in assuming that this won't work at the moment - A given client would need an IP address to wake the machine up, and it needs to machine to be awake to get an IP - catch 22?

Assuming I'm correct, can I move to using my router (which is always on) for DHCP? What impact will this have on DC and DNS?

Alternatively, does anyone have a better way for me to achieve this? Can I get the server to wake up when it sees clients look for a DHCP server, etc?

Wow, that came out longer than expected! Thanks for your help.

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