IP-adresses from Windows-machines on the network

[bK_Coder]

Hi, I've finlly set up fedor on my machine (core 4), and removed winxp, so no dual-boot :)

I live in a boarding school, and we're on a network here (part wired - part wireless), and I think they have a dns server running somewhere.

Anyways, the problem is that I can't ping other windows-machines, and they cant ping me (or get ip by using hostname for that matter).

Is there a simple way to set this up? It's hard for me to remebmber x different adresses, adn we're a large network, so /etc/hosts is out of the question. I also have no access to teh dns server, but I can talk to the sysadmin (who is my comp science teacher) about it if necessary.

Thanks in advance,

bK_Coder

[peters]

Most likely they are using DHCP. Have you set up your linux system to use DHCP? If you get a DHCP lease it usually will specify what DNS servers to use and will re-write your /etc/resolv.conf file for you. Also, there are ways to set up SAMBA to use a local WINS server like a DNS server as well, using winbind I believe.

hth

[pparks1]

You get your IP from DHCP and they do have a DNS server running.

The problem is that neither your computer, nor any of the Windows are likely getting DNS entries added. Instead, Windows is likely using NetBIOS which relies on either a WINS server or a master browser on the network.

Problem is that WINS and master browsers are a Windows networking thing. Therefore, you have to use the Linux based implementation (samba) to set up your selfself as a SAMBA server so that it advertised your NetBIOS name to the appropriate WINS server. You should be able to find ample documentation on how to set up your box to be a WINS server.

[bK_Coder]

I know that the servers used on my school are linux based. How can I set up a WINS server, and will this interfere with the server that's already there? (Which is a HTTP and DHCP-server and router box, i think)...

Anyways, I can find the computers by using nbtscan, but I still can't ping resolve their ip-adresses using hostnames... teh only adress on the network that I can resolve, is mine, and the server...

[peters]

In that case ask your comp sci teacher how best to setup your Linux desktop.. It sounds like your school is Linux friendly, so ask... You might want to do a little more research into what WINS is and how it works. Same for DHCP, etc etc. :) Misconfigured desktops can really annoy some sysadmins.

[bK_Coder]

Thanks for your pieces of advice, everyone, I will talk to my teacher and see what happens (my school is linux-friendly, yes :))