I have a single windows 2008 server running active directory, group policy, and DNS. DHCP is running from the firewall (this is because there are multiple branch locations, and each location has its own firewall supplying DHCP. But, for this problem, the server and workstation are at the same location).

On an XP workstation, if I try to visit \\domain.local or ping domain.local, the workstation can't find it. A ping returns Ping request could not find host domain.local.

If I try to visit \\server or \\server.domain.local or ping server or server.domain.local, I'm able to connect normally.

If I ping or visit domain.local on the server, I'm able to connect normally.

A-Records are in place in the DNS service for server, domain.local, and server.domain.local. A reverse lookup zone also is enabled and PTR records are in place.

If I wait 20-30 minutes, I am eventually able to ping and visit domain.local--but, when attempting to ping, it takes 30 second to return an IP address.

I am also unable to join a new workstation to the domain during this wait period. If I try, the error message returned is "network path not found".

Is there something I'm missing?