Can ping hostname.domain but not hostname
 

I have a network which consists of a WinXP server, Linux Redhat 7 client and WinXP client.
The WinXP server dynamically allocates IP addresses to the clients using DHCP.
The internet works fine on both clients and the server
I can ping using IP and hostname and hostname.domain from both clients to the server.

I can ping using IP, hostname and hostname.domain from both clients to each other

I can ping using IP, hostname and hostname.domain from the server to the XP client

I can ping from the server to the linux client using IP and hostname.domain - but I cannot ping using just the hostname.

Is this a problem? I am about to set up samba but want to have the network running properly first

I have installed samba a few times before but only on servers. Is there any tricks to it when samba is on a DHCP client.

I don't think it'll make any difference as the netbios name and the rest of the settings you use when you setup samba will be the name that the computer is identified by when sharing files.

Shouldn't make any difference either that you are using DHCP.