I have a Linksys WRT54G router. This router also functions as a DHCP server for following machines:

1) Windows 2000 server "SERVER"
2) Windows XP/SUSE 9.3 dual boot "TOWER" (same name in both OS's)
3) Debian 3.1 "LAPTOP"
4) Windows XP "KIDS"

The router's DHCP clients table lists all four, except the Debian entry does not show the hostname. I ran "hostname LAPTOP", I also put "hostname LAPTOP" in the eth0 listing in /etc/network/interfaces. To make sure the "TOWER" listing was also coming from SUSE 9.3, I deleted that entry from the DHCP clients table. The entry was restored when I booted into SUSE.

This client table also performs name resolution on the local LAN.

I've searched this and other forums, googled, I've not been able to find a resolution to this issue. Anyone have an idea how to fix this without ditching DHCP and using static IP and hosts files?

Thanks.

Debian's default DHCP client [dhclient] does not support the hostname option. Try installing dhcpcd, which will automatically remove dhclient and be used in its place.

Edit: Yes, dhcpcd does support the hostname option. Sorry, didn't make that very clear.

Great, thanks very much, I'll try that as soon as I get home.

dhclient is not the DHCP client installed, dhcp-client is. not sure where to go from here

Fixed it

ran "apt-get install dhcpcd" which removed dhcp-client

Getting something working in linux is very gratifying.

dhcp-client is the Debian package name for dhclient. And believe me, I know the feel of gratification. Congratulations.

Especially gratifying since I'm trying to configure this machine 100% GUI-less. Not even X installed.

OK, now I've got another issue.

The Linux machines cannot resolve the hostnames. From any of the Windows machines I can ping 'hostname' or telnet 'hostname', the names resolve without issue, even if the IP address changes.

Is my thinking correct in that this is related to the Windows setting "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP"? Is Samba involved in getting this operational on the Linux side? I've been Googling and RTFM'ing and I can't find a definitive answer.

Thanks again for all the help.

Damn, I typed up a whole reply, previewed it, and forgot to hit post.. Anyway..

Basically, if I remember correctly, you need to run the winbind daemon and modify your /etc/nsswitch.conf. To install winbind, run apt-get install winbind. Once that is done, change the hosts line in /etc/nsswitch.conf to read:

hosts: files dns wins

Contrary to what it may seem, you don't have to run a WINS server to get name resolution going. However, running one could not possibly hurt at all. In fact, I recommend it for any network with more than just three or four computers.

I'm not surprised you haven't found this one, it's almost completely undocumented. And you're welcome. If you need anything, you can always PM me.