asked on 4/1/2004

DNS question

In a network environment of 3 computers running win98 peer-to-peer setup static ip on each computer no gateway configured, when you com to start run and lets say \\jack In would like to know who does the DNS translation since there is not DNS server present. I'm very curious to know how it works.

Please be simple.
Thanks
jdff

Windows Networking Internet Protocols

Last Comment

sirbounty

4/2/2004

sirbounty

4/1/2004

It does it via NetBIOS broadcasting.
Basically the system yells to everybody on the network "Where is Jack?"
Eventually, Jack replies...
:D

sirbounty

4/1/2004

Even on a network - \\Jack
would probably be resolved by Wins, not DNS

DNS names are in the form of
Jack.domain.com

jdff

4/1/2004

ASKER

But the Netbios protocol it's not installed only tcp/ip.

jdff

sirbounty

4/1/2004

To broadcast, the system would send out its message to all nodes on the same network/subnet.

Optionally, if the communication failes, you can force it by 'hard-coding' the netbios names of the other nodes into an LMHOSTS file (typically located under %systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc as LMHOSTS.SAM).

By default a system will broadcast to get a response, unless it is configured otherwise (via DHCP for example).

The difference is: NetBios (NBF) vs. NetBios over TCP/IP (NBT or NetBT)

This might help explain it: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=128233

jdff

4/1/2004

ASKER

Got you .. I made a serious mistake saying Netbios instead Netbui. So if we have the setup from above Netbios will be responsible to carry the response back and forth?

Thanks
jdff

sirbounty

4/1/2004

Well, if you're on a p2p network - netbeui may be the way to go. It's small, easy to configure, and fast. But it's also not routable - which means it doesn't leave your network/subnet. Of course, if you're on the internet, you'd still have to use tcp/ip...

If the broadcasting isn't working for you - you can always add the host names to the LMHOSTS file (you have to save this file FROM the LMHOSTS.SAM). LMHOSTS.SAM has some examples in there for you to look at, but the format is basically:

192.168.1.105 jack #PRE

The PRE causes it to 'pre'-load. If you don't want to reboot to get it working though, just go to a command line (start->Run->command) and type
NBTSTAT -R

(case doesn't matter, except for the "R").

Hope that helps.

jdff

4/1/2004

ASKER

do I have to save the computer name on each computer?

Thanks
jdff

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

sirbounty

4/1/2004