PLEASE HELP - Problem accessing machines by Hostname

Hi,

I hope someone here can help me as this problem is driving me mad!

At home I run a wired network with a Linksys Router (BEFSR41 Ver.2).
Everything here works fine.

When I go to University, I connect to the wireless network with a Linksys
Wireless Network Card (WPC54G). Again everything works fine here.

However, when I get back home and re plug my laptop into my Ethernet
network, I can only ping machines by IP address and not by hostname.

I am sure this has something to do with the router as the problem exists
with two different wireless NIC's. I also upgraded from Win 2000 to XP Pro,
but the problem still exists.

I tried phoning the tech support number, but they were useless.

Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Rob

Rob wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I hope someone here can help me as this problem is driving me mad!
>
> At home I run a wired network with a Linksys Router (BEFSR41 Ver.2).
> Everything here works fine.
>
> When I go to University, I connect to the wireless network with a Linksys
> Wireless Network Card (WPC54G). Again everything works fine here.
>
> However, when I get back home and re plug my laptop into my Ethernet
> network, I can only ping machines by IP address and not by hostname.
>
> I am sure this has something to do with the router as the problem exists
> with two different wireless NIC's. I also upgraded from Win 2000 to XP Pro,
> but the problem still exists.
>
> I tried phoning the tech support number, but they were useless.
>
> Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated!
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Rob
>
>
The University's DHCP server is probably setting a DHCPNodeType of 2.

NodeTypes are:
1. broadcast only
2. WINS only
4. broadcast then WINS
8. WINS then broadcast

If you have no WINS server on your network, your computer can't find by
name with a NodeType of 2.

To correct this, you need to set a NodeType in the registry. If you have
a NodeType set, it will override a DHCPNodeType directive.

Run regedit.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE|SYSTEM|CurrentControlSet|Servic es|NetBT|Parameters

If there is no DWORD value of NodeType, create one.
Set it to 4 or 8 (I keep mine set at 8).

Hi Jerry,

Thanks for the help so far.

I have gone into the registry and there does not seem to be a DWORD value of
NodeType.

Could you please give me a little more info on how I create one - this is
the first time I have done anything in the registry.

Many Thanks,

Rob


"Jerry Park" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:FU7%b.21725$(E-Mail Removed).. .
> Rob wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I hope someone here can help me as this problem is driving me mad!
> >
> > At home I run a wired network with a Linksys Router (BEFSR41 Ver.2).
> > Everything here works fine.Hi
> >
> > When I go to University, I connect to the wireless network with a
Linksys
> > Wireless Network Card (WPC54G). Again everything works fine here.
> >
> > However, when I get back home and re plug my laptop into my Ethernet
> > network, I can only ping machines by IP address and not by hostname.
> >
> > I am sure this has something to do with the router as the problem exists
> > with two different wireless NIC's. I also upgraded from Win 2000 to XP
Pro,
> > but the problem still exists.
> >
> > I tried phoning the tech support number, but they were useless.
> >
> > Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated!
> >
> > Thanks in advance,
> >
> > Rob
> >
> >
> The University's DHCP server is probably setting a DHCPNodeType of 2.
>
> NodeTypes are:
> 1. broadcast only
> 2. WINS only
> 4. broadcast then WINS
> 8. WINS then broadcast
>
> If you have no WINS server on your network, your computer can't find by
> name with a NodeType of 2.
>
> To correct this, you need to set a NodeType in the registry. If you have
> a NodeType set, it will override a DHCPNodeType directive.
>
> Run regedit.
>
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE|SYSTEM|CurrentControlSet|Servic es|NetBT|Parameters
>
> If there is no DWORD value of NodeType, create one.
> Set it to 4 or 8 (I keep mine set at 8).

On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 21:35:45 -0000, Rob spoketh

>Hi Jerry,
>
>Thanks for the help so far.
>
>I have gone into the registry and there does not seem to be a DWORD value of
>NodeType.
>
>Could you please give me a little more info on how I create one - this is
>the first time I have done anything in the registry.
>
>Many Thanks,
>
>Rob
>

The easy way to find out what nodetype you got is to use the good old
"ipconfig /all" command. The output should look something like this:

Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : thinkpad
Primary DNS Suffix . . . . . . . : hansenonline.net
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Peer-Peer
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : hansenonline.net

The default is "broadcast". If a WINS address is configured, then the
node type will change to "hybrid", unless the DHCP server (if any) has
also set the Node Type value. I have manually set the node type to 2
(peer-peer) to get rid of broadcasts...

However, I would not start messing with Node Type as the first step to
resolving your non-resolving problem...

What can you do on your home network? Try the "nbtstat" command. Try
"nbtstat -r" to see how names are resolved. It'll tell you how many are
resolved by broadcast and how many by server. You can also do "nbtstat
-c" to see which names your computer knows about.

Also, try "nbtstat -A a.b.c.d", where a.b.c.d is the IP address of your
other computer...

Other things:
- Make sure the workgroup names are identical on all your computers.
- Consider shutting down the Computer Browser service on your laptop.
This service will cache names on your network, and since your laptop is
going from network to network, that list will probably not be very
useful.



Lars M. Hansen
www.hansenonline.net
Remove "bad" from my e-mail address to contact me.
"If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?"

Rob wrote:
> Hi Jerry,
>
> Thanks for the help so far.
>
> I have gone into the registry and there does not seem to be a DWORD value of
> NodeType.
>
> Could you please give me a little more info on how I create one - this is
> the first time I have done anything in the registry.
>
> Many Thanks,
>
> Rob
>
>
> "Jerry Park" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:FU7%b.21725$(E-Mail Removed).. .
>
>>Rob wrote:
>>
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>I hope someone here can help me as this problem is driving me mad!
>>>
>>>At home I run a wired network with a Linksys Router (BEFSR41 Ver.2).
>>>Everything here works fine.Hi
>>>
>>>When I go to University, I connect to the wireless network with a
>
> Linksys
>
>>>Wireless Network Card (WPC54G). Again everything works fine here.
>>>
>>>However, when I get back home and re plug my laptop into my Ethernet
>>>network, I can only ping machines by IP address and not by hostname.
>>>
>>>I am sure this has something to do with the router as the problem exists
>>>with two different wireless NIC's. I also upgraded from Win 2000 to XP
>
> Pro,
>
>>>but the problem still exists.
>>>
>>>I tried phoning the tech support number, but they were useless.
>>>
>>>Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated!
>>>
>>>Thanks in advance,
>>>
>>>Rob
>>>
>>>
>>
>>The University's DHCP server is probably setting a DHCPNodeType of 2.
>>
>>NodeTypes are:
>>1. broadcast only
>>2. WINS only
>>4. broadcast then WINS
>>8. WINS then broadcast
>>
>>If you have no WINS server on your network, your computer can't find by
>>name with a NodeType of 2.
>>
>>To correct this, you need to set a NodeType in the registry. If you have
>>a NodeType set, it will override a DHCPNodeType directive.
>>
>>Run regedit.
>>
>>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE|SYSTEM|CurrentControlSet|Serv ices|NetBT|Parameters
>>
>>If there is no DWORD value of NodeType, create one.
>>Set it to 4 or 8 (I keep mine set at 8).
>
>
>
Highlight the Parameters key, click the New dropdown menu, select DWORD
value. Name the new value NodeType. Double click the NodeType value and
set the value.

Thanks ever so much for the help. I really appreciate it - problem now
solved!

In future I will definitely seek advice from these forums rather than from
the so called 'Technical Support' that Linksys offer!!!

Thank again,

Rob

"Jerry Park" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:LZa%b.3613$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Rob wrote:
> > Hi Jerry,
> >
> > Thanks for the help so far.
> >
> > I have gone into the registry and there does not seem to be a DWORD
value of
> > NodeType.
> >
> > Could you please give me a little more info on how I create one - this
is
> > the first time I have done anything in the registry.
> >
> > Many Thanks,
> >
> > Rob
> >
> >
> > "Jerry Park" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:FU7%b.21725$(E-Mail Removed).. .
> >
> >>Rob wrote:
> >>
> >>>Hi,
> >>>
> >>>I hope someone here can help me as this problem is driving me mad!
> >>>
> >>>At home I run a wired network with a Linksys Router (BEFSR41 Ver.2).
> >>>Everything here works fine.Hi
> >>>
> >>>When I go to University, I connect to the wireless network with a
> >
> > Linksys
> >
> >>>Wireless Network Card (WPC54G). Again everything works fine here.
> >>>
> >>>However, when I get back home and re plug my laptop into my Ethernet
> >>>network, I can only ping machines by IP address and not by hostname.
> >>>
> >>>I am sure this has something to do with the router as the problem
exists
> >>>with two different wireless NIC's. I also upgraded from Win 2000 to XP
> >
> > Pro,
> >
> >>>but the problem still exists.
> >>>
> >>>I tried phoning the tech support number, but they were useless.
> >>>
> >>>Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated!
> >>>
> >>>Thanks in advance,
> >>>
> >>>Rob
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>The University's DHCP server is probably setting a DHCPNodeType of 2.
> >>
> >>NodeTypes are:
> >>1. broadcast only
> >>2. WINS only
> >>4. broadcast then WINS
> >>8. WINS then broadcast
> >>
> >>If you have no WINS server on your network, your computer can't find by
> >>name with a NodeType of 2.
> >>
> >>To correct this, you need to set a NodeType in the registry. If you have
> >>a NodeType set, it will override a DHCPNodeType directive.
> >>
> >>Run regedit.
> >>
> >>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE|SYSTEM|CurrentControlSet|Serv ices|NetBT|Parameters
> >>
> >>If there is no DWORD value of NodeType, create one.
> >>Set it to 4 or 8 (I keep mine set at 8).
> >
> >
> >
> Highlight the Parameters key, click the New dropdown menu, select DWORD
> value. Name the new value NodeType. Double click the NodeType value and
> set the value.

I've never quite understood why those systems which set a DHCPNodeType
to reduce traffic on the network choose a NodeType of 2 when a NodeType
of 8 would do the same thing without causing users problems ....

Rob wrote:
> Thanks ever so much for the help. I really appreciate it - problem now
> solved!
>
> In future I will definitely seek advice from these forums rather than from
> the so called 'Technical Support' that Linksys offer!!!
>
> Thank again,
>
> Rob
>
> "Jerry Park" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:LZa%b.3613$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>>Rob wrote:
>>
>>>Hi Jerry,
>>>
>>>Thanks for the help so far.
>>>
>>>I have gone into the registry and there does not seem to be a DWORD
>
> value of
>
>>>NodeType.
>>>
>>>Could you please give me a little more info on how I create one - this
>
> is
>
>>>the first time I have done anything in the registry.
>>>
>>>Many Thanks,
>>>
>>>Rob
>>>
>>>
>>>"Jerry Park" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>>>news:FU7%b.21725$(E-Mail Removed) t...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Rob wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>>I hope someone here can help me as this problem is driving me mad!
>>>>>
>>>>>At home I run a wired network with a Linksys Router (BEFSR41 Ver.2).
>>>>>Everything here works fine.Hi
>>>>>
>>>>>When I go to University, I connect to the wireless network with a
>>>
>>>Linksys
>>>
>>>
>>>>>Wireless Network Card (WPC54G). Again everything works fine here.
>>>>>
>>>>>However, when I get back home and re plug my laptop into my Ethernet
>>>>>network, I can only ping machines by IP address and not by hostname.
>>>>>
>>>>>I am sure this has something to do with the router as the problem
>
> exists
>
>>>>>with two different wireless NIC's. I also upgraded from Win 2000 to XP
>>>
>>>Pro,
>>>
>>>
>>>>>but the problem still exists.
>>>>>
>>>>>I tried phoning the tech support number, but they were useless.
>>>>>
>>>>>Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated!
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks in advance,
>>>>>
>>>>>Rob
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>The University's DHCP server is probably setting a DHCPNodeType of 2.
>>>>
>>>>NodeTypes are:
>>>>1. broadcast only
>>>>2. WINS only
>>>>4. broadcast then WINS
>>>>8. WINS then broadcast
>>>>
>>>>If you have no WINS server on your network, your computer can't find by
>>>>name with a NodeType of 2.
>>>>
>>>>To correct this, you need to set a NodeType in the registry. If you have
>>>>a NodeType set, it will override a DHCPNodeType directive.
>>>>
>>>>Run regedit.
>>>>
>>>>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE|SYSTEM|CurrentControlSet|Se rvices|NetBT|Parameters
>>>>
>>>>If there is no DWORD value of NodeType, create one.
>>>>Set it to 4 or 8 (I keep mine set at 8).
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>Highlight the Parameters key, click the New dropdown menu, select DWORD
>>value. Name the new value NodeType. Double click the NodeType value and
>>set the value.
>
>
>