trouble assigning network ip numbers from hosts file

[dba]

I am using XP home SP2(NT5). When using NT4 I would store network ip
numbers in 'hosts'. I have windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file with
ip addresses for my network of systems. I am using 192.168.20.xxx.

part of hosts file is as follows.
192.168.20.200 franks.sss.org franks
192.168.20.201 bills.sss.org bills

run ipconfig, it produces following info

ping franks produces
Ping statistics for 169.254.xxx.xxx

however my system "franks" is 12.64.xxx.xxx when logged into isp
and 127.0.0.1 when not.

This worked fine on NT4. What am I doing wrong.

 

[Chuck [MVP]]

I am using XP home SP2(NT5). When using NT4 I would store network ip
numbers in 'hosts'. I have windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts file with
ip addresses for my network of systems. I am using 192.168.20.xxx.

part of hosts file is as follows.
192.168.20.200 franks.sss.org franks
192.168.20.201 bills.sss.org bills

run ipconfig, it produces following info

ping franks produces
Ping statistics for 169.254.xxx.xxx

however my system "franks" is 12.64.xxx.xxx when logged into isp
and 127.0.0.1 when not.

This worked fine on NT4. What am I doing wrong.

You might want to use LMHosts, not Hosts, for local name resolution. And check
the Node Type, on each computer, carefully.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/address-resolution-on-lan.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/address-resolution-on-lan.html

How do the computers connect to the Internet, and to each other?
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/06/background-information-useful-in.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP 2005-2007 [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

[Steven L Umbach]

I am a bit confused as you say ipconfig shows ping info?? The hosts file is
used to resolve fully qualified domain names so when you ping the remote
host franks.sss.org it should try to ping 192.168.20.200. Another list you
can populate is the lmhosts file [in same folder as hosts] for "flat" names
such as remote computer frank .

Steve