can only find hosts with dots

[Elisei]

hi there.

i've set up a dnsmasq as a local dns server. the problem that i am having is that other pachines on this network can only find host names if a dot (.) is appended to the end of the name:

for example : http://test-server/ is found on the server machine that has dnsmasq running but to open it on windows machine we have to to : http://test-server./ .

my /etc/hosts file looks like this:
127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost
192.168.1.14 test-server.localdomain test-server

# The following lines are desirable for IPv6 capable hosts
::1 ip6-localhost ip6-loopback
fe00::0 ip6-localnet
ff00::0 ip6-mcastprefix
ff02::1 ip6-allnodes
ff02::2 ip6-allrouters
ff02::3 ip6-allhosts

any suggestions are greatly appreciated, thanks;

[cariboo]

You don need dnsmasq or a dns server unless your are working with a large number of computers, if you are just running this on your local network just edit your hosts files to look like this:

127.0.0.1 localhost
192.168.1.14 test-server

You don't need any of the ipv6 entrues if you don't plan on using ipv6.

Jim

[MJN]

It is likely down to the configuration of the Windows client. Specifically, without adding the trailing period (indicating the root) it is adding on a search domain i.e. making the name fully qualified in order to ensure a resolution.

Increase the logging verbosity of dnsmasq or run a packet sniffer on the server (or client) to see exactly what request is being made. The suffix you'll see will give you an idea where the fault lies.

Edit: Having read this post (looking through the rant) it would appear that even in the absence of a domain suffix Windows clients may well not make a DNS request at all for non-qualified names Hence your only solution would be to use a domain suffix for your DNS or, as mentioned above, not use DNS at all. This behaviour is probably a hangover from the days of NETBIOS and its differentiation with DNS.

Mathew

[Elisei]

thanks ! i added a dot (.) as a suffix in windows and it seems (3 knocks on the wood) to be working;

[MJN]

Ah, yes - good thinking! I hadn't thought to just add a . as the suffix (I'm surprised it didn't baulk at the idea)

Mathew