problem : ping hostname to LAN computer

[irfaan]

Hi,

I am using FC9 and internet is working fine on it.
Well, I ping to google, it is resolving but if I ping by hostname to other LAN computers. it gives error : unknown host.
but if i ping with IP address it is pinging.

NOTE : 1) My firewall is acting as a dns server and other windows systems are resolving it.
2) FC9 firewall is disabled.

what might have been wrong????

[forkbomb]

Do you have any A records defined for your local hosts, or is your firewall just acting as a DNS forwarder?

The Windows machines are likely using NETBIOS names to resolve each other. Your Linux hosts probably don't have associated NETBIOS names.

[irfaan]

Firewall, Is just a dns forwarder, so do i need to configure netbios in my linux box.

[forkbomb]

OK. If the firewall is just a forwarder, that's why - it doesn't have an authoritative zone or any records defining your local hosts by their IPs.

I would say that attempting to get your Linux machines to use NetBIOS is probably the most direct route unless you want to set up a DNS server with an authoritative zone (which is probably overkill for a home network).

A few things come to mind:
1) LISA daemon
2) Configure a skeletal Samba config file on the Linux machines, then modify the /etc/nsswitch.conf file to allow the machines to resolve by NetBIOS names.
3) Set up your hosts files and use static IPs (this is admittedly a pain)

[irfaan]

Thanks,
I will try to do that !

[forkbomb]

Think I got it. The following works for me - pinging by NetBIOS name from Fedora to Windows and vice versa.

Samba config on the Fedora box:

[global]
WORKGROUP = WORKGROUP
NETBIOS NAME = FEDORA

(yup, that's about all that's really necessary there for just allowing the Fedora box to use NetBIOS.)

/etc/nsswitch.conf:

[snipped]
hosts:     files wins dns
[snipped]

Make sure smb and nmb are started:

service smb start
service nmb start

And to load them on boot:

chkconfig smb on
chkconfig nmb on

Now if I do "ping fedora" (and also I should mention that NetBIOS isn't case sensitive) from the Windows box, it resolves it just fine.