Network issues with DNS not being found [closed]

Question

This is exactly like how our network looks like:
Single server with a network router

Everything is setup, but I cannot connect our Macs under the Login Options -> Join... to this server. Our server's name is Toolbox and I have tried Toolbox.local, Toolbox.private, prepended the afp:// protocol to the name, but nothing, our Macs just don't want to connect this way. Our router has DHCP and gives out all the IP addresses naturally, would I have to add Toolbox.local to the DNS on the router and like it via static internal IP to the server?

Our Macs keep giving the following error while trying to join the Network Account Server:

Unable to add server
Could not resolve the address (2200)

What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

According to your error message it is clearly a DNS issue.

Some hints: Is the correct DNS passed to the clients with DHCP? What do the client DNS/network settings look like? Are they using the correct DNS? What does it say if you try to resolve the address with a "dig"? Does it work if you try joining the clients to the ip (for testing)?

Answer 2

Check out the screenshots below. In the first, note the red highlighted area. Try that address. Also try the kerberos realm. Can you ping the server from the clients using the IP address and Toolbox.local? Don't append afp:// or anything to the url. You should set up a static IP for the server and set up the router to provide a PTR (reverse dns name) for the server. Send me a private message with your email address and I can help you out in more detail if you'd like.