1

I have a wired network using the workgroup of PAPERTECH with the following machines:

  • Windows XP (hostname: WinXP)
  • Ubuntu 12.10 (hostname: WebServer) - via Samba
  • Mac OS X 10.9 (hostname: MacMini)

The problem is that the Mac cannot resolve the hostname for the Ubuntu web server as it cannot ping it.

Ping Summary:

  • From the Windows machine I can ping MacMini and WebServer.

  • From the Ubuntu machine I can ping WinXP.PAPERTECH.local but cannot ping MacMini.PAPERTECH.local.

  • From the Mac machine I can ping WinXP.PAPERTECH.local but cannot ping WebServer.PAPERTECH.local.

Mac Setup

I've set the workgroup using the Network settings under: System Preferences > Network > Ethernet (Advanced ...) > WINS. I've also enabled 'Share files and folders using SMB' under: System Preferences > Sharing > File Sharing.

Despite the above settings the Mac is still unable to ping or connect to the server using the hostname: WebServer (NOTE: it is able to ping the IP address it resolves to).

Any other ideas?

Improve this question
0

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

Did you remember to add the line 

 netbios name = your_pc_name

in the file /etc/samba/smb.conf, and to restart the services nmbd and smbd and/or to reboot?

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    I tried adding this below [global] settings and restarted both nmbd and smbd but it didn't seem to make a difference. I then also tried a reboot after making the changes but it didn't seem to make a difference either.
    – paperclip
    Commented Jan 28, 2014 at 15:27
0

If you can ping by IP, then the issue is a DNS resolution issue.

There are two ways to resolve your issue if you want to use names.

Set up a DNS server to be used by all your machines.

Update your hosts files on the Linux and Mac boxes. This is located in /etc/hosts

Improve this answer
4
  • The hostname's mentioned above are the FQDN's on the network so I would have thought that I don't need to edit the /etc/hosts.
    – paperclip
    Commented Jan 28, 2014 at 15:24
  • FQDN or not, if you cannot resolve a name to an IP you will not be able to connect. Did you try @MariusMatutiae s answer?
    – Deesbek
    Commented Jan 28, 2014 at 16:29
  • Yep, tried @MariusMatutiae's suggestion but it didn't appear to make a difference. I guess I'm expecting that I should be able to resolve the FQDN on both Windows and Mac as they are both part of the same network and workgroup.
    – paperclip
    Commented Jan 28, 2014 at 16:35
  • 1
    For FQDN to work you need to have a DNS server set up as I specified. Or you have to configure your DHCP server to provide the full DNS info.
    – Deesbek
    Commented Jan 28, 2014 at 16:52

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .