Unknown Host <Linuxmachinename> / Unable to ping by host name
 

Hi,
We have windows 98,win2000 and Linux connected in a workgroup. I can ping my Linux machine by ip address but not by host name.In the Windows Explorer of win 98 if i type the ip adrress i can browse my Linux shares..and consequently if i type machinename i am able to browse my shares.This is as far as Win98 behaviour is concerned . But i am unable to browse by ipaddr in Window 2000.
Net View \\<Linuxmachine> in Windows 98 shows all shares whereas not the same in Win 2000.

Also, i am still not able to ping by name from either machines.
Any help greatly appreciated.I am already at my wits end !!
Also, Firewall is turned off.

To ping by host name you need to have some kind of hostname resolution such as a DNS server to find out what the IP of that host is. Can you browse 98 shares from 2000?

I am not sure about your Windows 2000 problem as I have never had experience of Windows 2000. It is likely that 2000 doesnt have the necessary protocol installed. I think that the necessarry protocol is called "Microsoft File and Print Sharing" or something. Look in the network settings in Windows 98 and make sure you have the same installed on win 2000.

HTH

Hi,
I have my DNS Resolution enabled.Also, i can browse 98 shares from 2000 and 2000 has Microsoft File and Print Sharing enabled.
Also, I can access the Internet from my Linux Machine (Gateway)..however if i try to access it from other machines setting Linux m/c as gateway ..i cannot access the Internet.
Running Traceroute shows following behaviour.
1) On Linux :
In 1 hop it reaches 192.168.0.X(external gateway)
2) On Win machine:
1st hop -> Linux machine
2nd hop -> Request Timed Out !!

Internet domain names are a different namespace to NETBIOS names, or should be, windows sometimes mixes the two in troublesome ways.

>To ping by host name you need to have some kind of hostname resolution such as a DNS server to find out
>what the IP of that host is.

>I have my DNS Resolution enabled.
I expect you are sending DNS querys to your ISP's resolving nameservers. Your ISP's server knows nothing of the machines on your home LAN.

The easiest way is to add a line in the host file on every machine that maps your desired hostname to an ip address.

on 2k/XP the host files is somthing like
c:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

The same can be done in Linux with /etc/hosts

Format is:

domain this.is.the.ip