can ping without DNS installed

[think_pro]

Hi.
I am confused with DNS..
Some told me that i need DNS to convert host name-> IP Add
and vice versa
I have a w2k server and some w2k pro PCs. The thing is
that i can still ping each other and find those shared
files in other pc using host name without the DNS server
installed in the server.
Why is it the case? I am in total confusion.
Pls Help

 

[Ace Fekay [MVP]]

In

Hi.
I am confused with DNS..
Some told me that i need DNS to convert host name-> IP Add
and vice versa
I have a w2k server and some w2k pro PCs. The thing is
that i can still ping each other and find those shared
files in other pc using host name without the DNS server
installed in the server.
Why is it the case? I am in total confusion.
Pls Help

If you're pinging by just the hostname, such as "machinename" instead of
machinename.domain.com, then I can see why. It' using NetBIOS broadcasts for
that.

--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies to the newsgroup so all can benefit.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2000, MCSE+I, MCSA, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Active Directory

 

[Kevin D. Goodknecht]

In Ace Fekay [MVP] <PleaseSubstituteMyActualFirstName&[email protected]>
posted a question
Then Kevin replied below:

In

If you're pinging by just the hostname, such as "machinename" instead
of machinename.domain.com, then I can see why. It' using NetBIOS
broadcasts for that.

--

Just to add, while you can live without DNS on the server for browsing,
sharing and network neighborhood (which does not use DNS) If you decide to
promote the server to a Domain Controller, then you cannot live without DNS
and all domain members must use your local DNS server only.

 

[john]

Hi, r u meant that i am using a Wins server?
As far as i am concerned, we need to have a wins server in
order to do the netbious broadcast but i didnt install any
Wins
Correct me if i am wrong.Thank you
Pls help

 

[Herb Martin]

Hi, r u meant that i am using a Wins server?
As far as i am concerned, we need to have a wins server in
order to do the netbious broadcast but i didnt install any
Wins
Correct me if i am wrong.Thank you
Pls help

WINS servers are unnecessary for broadcast NetBIOS name resolution,
but rather an alternative to broadcasts.

If you only have a single LAN, of a single segment you will not need a WINS
server. BUT if you have multiple LANS or the LANS have more than one
subnet/segment you will probably need the WINS server to resolve NetBIOS
names for both legacy clients AND for remaining legacy programs like
NetWork Neighborhood (browsing.)

The reason for the distinction is that broadcasts do not pass routers (be
default)
and the WINS server and clients can work through the routed environment.

Such broadcasts can even supplement DNS resolution (by default) and might
explain the earlier question about name resolution working (locally) even
without a DNS server.

Once you have multiple subnets, or especially for the Internet, or as a
requirement
for Active Directory, you much configure the DNS server.

 

[Guest]

Sorry but i dont quite understand the statement below

"Such broadcasts can even supplement DNS resolution (by
default) and might explain the earlier question about name
resolution working (locally) even without a DNS server."

What broadcast u mean? i thought wins server and client
does not use Netbious broadcast but rather an alternative
to netbios broadcasr as explaned by u

What u mean by supplementing DNS resoultion?
Netbios is only machinename whereas DNS has domain.com

Pls advice

 

[Ace Fekay [MVP]]

In

Sorry but i dont quite understand the statement below

"Such broadcasts can even supplement DNS resolution (by
default) and might explain the earlier question about name
resolution working (locally) even without a DNS server."

What broadcast u mean? i thought wins server and client
does not use Netbious broadcast but rather an alternative
to netbios broadcasr as explaned by u

What u mean by supplementing DNS resoultion?
Netbios is only machinename whereas DNS has domain.com

Pls advice

What he means is that single name communication on a single subnet is done
via broadcasts. However, if you hav a large network with mutliple sites with
traffic going thru a router, these broadcasts are BLOCKED by routers. So you
can't ping by single name across a router to a machine in another site. Make
sense so far? So how do make it work to be able to do this? We need a
NetBIOS name resolution solution, and that answer is WINS.

--
Regards,
Ace

Please direct all replies to the newsgroup so all can benefit.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

Ace Fekay, MCSE 2000, MCSE+I, MCSA, MCT, MVP
Microsoft Windows MVP - Active Directory

 

[Herb Martin]

Internet or DNS name resolution (rather than NetBIOS to start) follows a
default
sequence that first tries the host\DNS methods then fails over to trying the
methods used by NetBIOS resolution (WINS, Broadcasts, etc.)

This is a registry setting and is on by default. This is NOT the same as a
NetBIOS
from the start resolution.

[NetBIOS resolution does something similar but is a check box in the WINS
tab
of the IP configuration of the NIC.]

So even when PURE DNS resolution might fail, a broadcast might be used to
complete the resolution.