Is there a quick and easy way to deliver a fully qualified domain name for a typical home LAN?
I want to run a database and web server on the LAN, but they both nag me for a fully qualified domain name (FQDN).

Since everything is inside the gateway on a RFC private IP network, I don't have 'bind' or other name server running anywhere. My efforts to use /etc/hosts have not worked.

Since I won't be sending this name or IP address to the public internet, I think that I can call my in-house domain anything that suits my fancy. Is there some convention or "standard?"

Thanks in advance,
~~~ 0;-Dan

I installed a dnsmasq server on my network and configured the workstations to use it for dns resolution. With dnsmasq you can define domains to be local only (i.e., a request within that domain that dnsmasq can't resolve will not be forwarded to your isp upstream dns.

Easy way is to purchase a FQDN. The issue of lan and never connected to wan may allow you to use any domain name. You'd have to resolve it by some means like hosts, wins or lmhosts I'd think.

Why do you say hosts won't work? Is hosts file set in order to be looked at first? Are you using a proxy.pac file?
Might be able to use hosts files to fool it all. Produce a totally crazy fqdn and odd extension and use hosts file to access it on lan. See if it will take Mysite.xyz

One can create and manage a hosts file on a workstation of any sort. However, I cannot set a hosts file on phones or tablets or game systems.

~~~ 8d:-/ Dan

at least for my android phone this is not true - it has /etc/hosts just like any linux system, and i can edit it.
there's even an app creating a passive adblock via hosts - check https://f-droid.org/

Are you running a "rooted" or a stock Android?
I have stock v5.0.1 -- well as shipped by Samsung (my tablet) or AT&T (my phone).
~~~ 0;-Dan

on web server install bind9
create there any virtual host you want , even google.com without purchase it , then set LAN PC dns to webserver IP

in /etc/bind/pri.domain edit such
$TTL 3600
@ IN SOA 192.168.1.100. mail.domain.com. (
2014082001 ; serial, todays date + todays serial #
7200 ; refresh, seconds
540 ; retry, seconds
604800 ; expire, seconds
86400 ) ; minimum, seconds
;

domain.com. 3600 A 192.168.1.100
mail 3600 A 192.168.1.100
www 3600 A 192.168.1.100
domain.com. 3600 MX 10 mail.domain.com.
domain.com. 3600 NS 192.168.1.100.
domain.com. 3600 NS 192.168.1.100.


save it , restart bind service and there you are , of course , change 192.168.1.100 and domain.com acordingly

You can run a .com domain inside your LAN. However, .local is usually preferred for internal domains.

rooted.
point taken, your statement was "cannot set a hosts file...".
however, the hosts file is still there, even on stock android.