Ping a computer in LAN using hostname

seven · 07-03-2003, 03:16 PM

Hi there :-)

I have a problem that has been bugging me for a while and I'd be greatful if someone could help me. I'm quite new to linux and networking so please be patient with me.

I have a small LAN at home using a router and a cabel modem to connect to the internet. The computers get their IPs and stuff from the router dynamically using the dhcp and I have no problems connecting to the internet.

The problem is that I can't ping the other computers in the LAN from my linux computer when I use hostnames. I get:
ping: unknown host aHostname.
I can ping the other computers without problem when I use IPs instead of hostnames. I can also ping myself using localhost and my own hostname. Also, when I ping from my windows XP computer using hostnames, all works fine so there has to be something wrong with my network configuration in linux (debian), but I don't know where.

I don't want to add the hostnames to the /etc/hosts since the IPs might change when I use dhcp. The address of the router is in the /etc/resolv.conf as nameserver, so I thought the hostnames should be resolved using the DNS of the router (NETGEAR MR314) or isnt't the router responsible for this?

I'd also like to know if I have to add anything about a domain in the configuration. My ISP is in the yetnet.ch domain, but I don't understand if my LAN is also a part of this domain or if it is only important to the cabel modem.

Thanks for any help.

mrtwice · 07-03-2003, 05:31 PM

your router probably doesn't have a clue about the hostnames of each computers hostname. You might be able to set that up, but I doubt it.

Windows can ping by hostname because it uses netbios to send out that information.

You could setup a local dns/dhcp server, shut off your router's dhcp, and give the router a static route. This would solve your problem but be some work.

Robert0380 · 07-04-2003, 02:28 AM

you dont have to setup any extra servers for this, just edit /etc/hosts

here is my /etc/hosts file

Code:


127.0.0.1	decatur localhost
192.168.1.266   gigahurts.net

this works if the ips are static though.

RottenMutt · 07-05-2003, 11:42 PM

i have the same problem as the original poster posted...
only difference is that i'm running RH 9.0.
i'm able to share printers on my windows machine and files. It seems like linux just won't ask the router to resolve the names....

I'm a

to linux, thanks for your help

best i can tell is maybe linux isn't configured to use a default gateway or a dhcp sever....