ping hostname not working

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Hello,
When I do "ping –a ip_address" I see host name and computer is up. But when
I do "ping computer_name" it says unknown host. What might be the problem be?
I an mew in networking, can you tell me where exactly to check?
Thanks,
Jim.
 
normally your dns server handles resolving names to addresses. make sure
you have a dns server in your network configuration and that it is working.
if you don't know how to do that then you need to describe your network a
bit more so someone can figure out where you should start looking.
 
ok. we have a dns server, how should I check if it has any error in resolving
ip address? Is it in event viewer?
 
next you should check that the machine you are on has that dns server in its
network configuration. then make sure you can ping the dns server by it's
ip address just to know that you can talk to it. then check with the dns
admin to see if the name you are trying to ping is in the name list and has
the correct ip.
 
Dave,
Thanks for the reply. Since I am able to ping other computers DNS can
resolve the ip addresses, I would assume DNS is up and running. My problem is
only one specific computer. Also remember when I do "ping -a ip_address" on
this computer I am seeing computer name, is DNS involved if I ping IP
addresses. Last point you made, how can I check if the computer is listed in
the name list in DNS?
Thanks,
Jim.
 
the -a does a reverse-dns lookup to get the name from the ip address. i
would guess that the dns server doesn't have the right information for the
name you are trying to ping. the administrator for the server would have to
check to see what the problem is.
 
if I want to check the name on the dns sever, where should I check it, I can
login to dns with admin.
 
On the Server: Control Panel/Administrative Tools/DNS. Expand the Forward
Lookup Zones and click on the zone corresponding to your domain name. You
will get a list of host records in the right pane of the screen. If the
host in question does not appear, run the following command on the host
machine:

ipconfig /registerdns

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP
 
Just a guess,...but,....

We had a server come in from a Vendor for a specific application that
exibited this same behavor (and worse).

They had disabled:
1. Client for Microsoft Networks (unbound)
2. File and Print Sharing (unbound)
3. Computer Browser Service
4. Netbios over TCP/IP

I needed it to function normally on our LAN as a Domain Member from across
subnets, so I had to enable and rebind the four of these items and give it
DNS/WINS settings in the TCP/IP config.

Maybe someone had been attempting some "hardening" techniques and got
carried away with it on Jim's box. Many of these problems turn out to be
self-inflicted by over-jealous "security measures".
 
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