I have a mixed network of linux and windows servers, in an AD domain.
I have added the linux boxes to the dns "domain.local" zone, and they are addressable using 'server-name.domain.local' on the network.

However, I would like them to be addressable using only their host name, without having to append the dns domain suffix.

This is easily done using a hosts file, but I find myself adding linux boxes frequently, and this process is, well, annoying (and is what dns is for).

How might I accomplish this? I do not really need the linux boxes to be part of the AD domain, but I do need to enable file sharing back-and-forth using Samba.

Would a secondary dns server work? Or a nfs-shared hosts file?

Thank you.

Given that you have an AD domain (which I know next to nothing about), these may be foolish Q's; but:

• What is providing you local (LAN) DNS?
• What about WINS?
• Is there Samba in the mix?

My local DNS is a service on the domain controller, which provides forward- and reverse- loookup zones for my domain 'DOMAIN.local', and forwards all non-local dns requests (i.e. .com/.net) up to OpenDNS's servers.
The domain controller is also the wins server, and Yes, samba is in the mix (mainly the linux servers mounting shares on the windows servers, and not vice-versa, though that might be a future requirement)

Thanks for your help.

Are you handing out the "Domain Search Option" in DHCP ?

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3397.txt