cannot access other computer through computer name but able to do so using ip address

Hi leon24,

have you got netbios enabled on the machines? if your not in a domain you will need to enable this

Cheers!

hi jay,

do u mean selecting "enable netbios over tcp\ip?" i've already done so but i still face this problem.

ip address of which machine ?

i have the ip address of the machine im using, but i'm unable to get the ip add of the machine im trying to access. its a server behind my institutions firewall.

are you in a domain environment?

i'm unable to get the ip add of the machine im trying to access. its a server behind my institutions firewall.<<

Then how do you know you can access it using the IPAddress, if you don't know it?  Seems to be conflicting statements here..

Is this a domain environment?  If so, this is a DNS problem, and you need to look there for the problem..  If not, then is the other server in a different subnet?  If a different subnet, Netbios is not going to do you any good without a WINS server in each subnet..

Read more on Netbios from my site:

http://65.24.134.81/KipSolutions/NetBios/netbios.htm

i dont think im in any domains.

but im using my institution's vpn program to access that particular server called ts01.

i think its my local dns problem, without any doubt. because even in any trusted network i've been to, even my friend's network or my own network, i cant access other computers using the computer name, but only able to do so using ip address.

lets not concentrate on my school server, but my home computers. i believe that if i can access my home computer using computer name, i'll be able to get through to my school server.

by the way, in my friend's network, all the computers are able to access each other using the computer name, only mine is unable to. therefore i dont think its a problem with the network settings. really require any help now as i'm running out of time just trying to solve this problem. :)

if you have the IP address then you can edit that LMHOSTS file i mentioned above, this will add an entry that will allow you to ping the machine by name and access it via \\name\share rather than \\IP\share

hi jay,

sorry to have bothered u so many times.

this is the problem. i can edit LMHOSTS file if i have the IP addresses of the computers (which i can solve if im on my friend's network or my own network), but the problem lies with me being unable to get the school server's IP address, because it is within their own network and i have to VPN into it.

im really at my wit's end.

how do you VPN to somewhere that you dont the address? what VPN setup do you have?

the vpn program is provided by my school. once i installed and run the vpn program, im already in the school network, which means i'm able to access this particular folder in the school server (\\ts01\wwwroot$\). that is what my friends are able to do after they installed the vpn program.

im already in the school network (vpn inside), but i cannot access this particular folder because my computer is unable to access another computer by keying in the computer name.

so there are 2 ways which i believe i can solve the problem.

1) keying in the ip address of \\ts01

2) solve my computer's problem (if i can access a computer on the network by entering the computer name, i should be able to access the \\ts01\wwwroot$\ folder)

but i'm unable to find out the ip address of \\ts01, which maes only solution 2 possible. i've tried asking my other friends to ping \\ts01 to get the ip address of \\ts01 but they are unable to ping it.

can you access any resources within the network once connected?

are you sure this isnt security related

i dont think it has to do with the security.

if it is a problem with my school security, den i should be able to access my friend's network computer or my own home network computer just by typing the computer name. is it ?

when your not connected to VPN then you should be able to access computers by name on your LAN as long as you have netbios enabled & are part of the same workgroup etc

:)  In truth, the workgroup does not really matter..  but you must be on the same LAN, or have WINs servers installed to go across the subnets..

Do this:  Download and install GFI's Languard Security Scanner.  Run it when the VPN is enabled.  This will give you the IPAddresses AND Netbios names of all appliances (servers too) that are on the LAN (enabled by the VPN)..  This should give you the necessary information you require..

http://www.gfi.com/downloads/downloads.aspx?pid=LANSS&lid=EN

check these settings for DHCPnodetype  and nodetype
in the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NetBT\Parameters\

 refer to MS KB link for proper settings:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/160177/en-us