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Accepted
Kreker
Asked: 2012-05-17 00:29:05 +0800 CST

Cannot ping Ubuntu server by hostname

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I know this is already asked but I can't find a clear answer. I put a new Ubuntu server in my LAN and I can't ping it but the hostname. I don't want to edit all my LAN windows hosts's file (+40 pcs) and add the entry. Perhaps I have another Ubuntu server and I can ping it by hostname without change anything.

All servers and client are using another internal DNS server based on an old redhat installation.

The hostname in the server that I can't ping is setted. What I have to do/check?

ping hostname

4 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    You've got two options, of which you can do either or both:

    • Install Samba (apt-get install samba) and activate the nmbd component, this will make the Ubuntu server answer broadcast NetBIOS name requests from Windows clients without further configuration.

    • Add a record to your DNS server. You mentioned the DNS server is RedHat EL 4 so will quite likely be running ISC Bind. The configuration is in /etc/named and RedHat compatible manuals are still available here: http://www.centos.org/docs/4/html/rhel-rg-en-4/ch-bind.html

    Edit: The second of these is preferable, you shouldn't rely on NetBIOS to do name resolution for you.

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  2. Add an entry into DNS on your domain controller in forward lookup zones for the Ubuntu machine, this is what I normally do.

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  3. hostname.local should work, and if not, refer to Ubuntu Zeroconf guide.

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  4. See this answer: https://askubuntu.com/a/516533

    1. sudo apt-get install winbind
    2. sudo apt-get install libnss-winbind

    3. sudo gedit /etc/nsswitch.conf and append "wins" after "files"

      hosts: files wins mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns

    ping WinComputer shoud work from your ubuntu machine.

    And from WinComputer you should be able to ping UbuntuComp

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