I just installed a windows 2000 server and 3 workstations running windows 2000 professional. I have a router connected to the internet. I was wondering if I should activate the DNS server on the windows 2000 server OS? Or because I have a router it is not necessary?? I’m not really sure what DNS does to me if I don’t have a domain on the internet. Or do I just simply need a DNS server for the workstations to translate the domain name to ip address? This is so confusing to me in case of small networks. I would greatly appreciate it if somone can give me an answer regarding my question. Thank You!!
(I was reading many things about DNS and I understand DNS on the internet. It is essential there to give us convinience to type in names instead of ip addresses. But in a small network with 1 server???? I don’t see why I have to deal with it. 
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4:28 am on July 19th, 2009
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In a typical configuration, I would say no.
I am going to assume that your workstations are all connected to your router which is then connected to the internet. I am also going to assume that the router is the gateway for your workstations.
I am assuming this is a residential setting, If this is a business, please let me know. Typically, a DNS server would be for your own domain or as some sort of caching mechanism.
[Update]
How are things going now? Has everything been solved?