can see network computers by IP addr, but not by name

[doublempi]

I have three computers:
dede-desktop at 192.168.1.2 wired
mike-laptop at 192.168.1.3 wireless
moum-server at 192.168.1.4 wired

From any machine, I can ping 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.4 by ipaddress. But if I ping by name (dede-desktop or moum-server), I get nothing (unknown host).

I can't ping 192.168.1.3 by either name of ipaddress.

My router sees the ipaddresses and machine names properly paired, so I have no idea what's going on.

Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Mike

[jamest09]

What is the contents of /etc/resolv.conf?

[doublempi]

resolve.conf

# Generated by NetworkManager
nameserver 192.168.1.1

[Iowan]

Something must tie DHCP and DNS together. Although the router has all the information, it may not be configured (or able) to serve that info via DNS. DNSMasq is supposed to be able to do that. You could build the information into the /etc/hosts file on each computer... but it would only be accurate until DHCP handed a machine a different address.

[doublempi]

I added
192.168.1.2 dede-desktop
to my etc/hosts file, and now I can see her computer by both ip and name. This strikes me more as a workaround than a fix, however. It must be a DNS problem, but I don't know enough (yet) about networking to properly fix it.

Ideas are still welcome.

Thanks for everyone's help.
Mike

[pebo]

You should be able to permanently assign an ip address to the client machines in your router - it's called fixed mapping under DHCP server in mine.
HTH

[doublempi]

Thanks. I've mapped the addresses in my router. But I still can't see my wireless laptop. My laptop can see all the other computers, but they can't see my laptop.

Any ideas?

Mike

[Gustavo Narea]

Try the following instead:

• dede-desktop.local
• mike-laptop.local
• moum-server.local

It's worked out-of-the-box with all the modern routers I've used.

HTH.

[doublempi]

[quote=Gustavo Narea;7725851]Try the following instead:

• dede-desktop.local
• mike-laptop.local
• moum-server.local

It's worked out-of-the-box with all the modern routers I've used.

Thanks, Gustavo.

Does this get entered in the router, or the hosts file, or where?

Mike

[kevdog]

Is this where the winbind utility would be appropriate?