ping only with ip, dns lan problem?

[mael15]

hi folks,

i feel like i am missing something very simple. i have been googleing this problem a lot.

i have a notebook with ubuntu 8.10 in a lan with a router as dns server. i want to connect to a winxp computer named "server" through it's name, not ip. since the router uses dhcp and i am in a company, i cannot switch to fixed ips.

these are the temporary adresses
laptop: 192.168.1.33
router: 192.168.1.1
server: 192.168.1.34

i can ping 192.168.1.34 successfully, but ping server fails. internet works fine though.

what can i do to access server through it's name, not ip?
thanx!

[mael15]

has noone any idea?!

[Iowan]

/etc/resolv/conf shows the notebook is using the router for DNS?

[mael15]

thanx iowan,
the problem was solved by adding wins in the etc/nsswitch.conf:
http://www.sigmundvoid.com/2007/08/n...es-and-ubuntu/

[Iowan]

Glad you got it solved. I'll bookmark your link - that problem pops up frequently.