Can not access intranet using hostnames, but can access with IP

[thule]

Hi folks

I am struggling to complete the setup at home. Just took TWC cable internet and have the CG3000 Dv2-RG. I connected this and the internet is on and doing well. I connected most of my other devices as well. However I have a couple of raspberry pi and a couple of computers that I frequently ftp/cups/ssh in to. I can connect to all these without problem as long as I connect using the intranet IP. However if I try to connect using the hostname of the device - for eg: ping myserver; it will go to "ping myserver.Nobis### ". The last 3# being a number.  And this does not connect.

I used to have AT&T router before and it behaved similarly - connected using myserver.attlocal but it used to go through. On the netgear I am not able to find the settings for this.

Device: CG3000 Dv2-RG

ISP: TWC

OS: Ubuntu

Thanks for any suggestions

sree

[TheEther]

Hostnames are usually resolved by DNS.  The CG3000 usually acts as the DNS relay and sends DNS queries to the DNS server.  If the CG3000 is using TWC's DNS server, then DNS resolution for your local servers will fail.  The CG3000 doesn't have any DNS settings besides the DNS server address.  You cannot point to a local DNS server.  It won't work.

There is one exception.  If your servers run mDNS (called Avahi on Linux), then hostnames with .local appended to them can be locally resolved.  For example, myserver.local should work.  mDNS uses IP Multicast.

[thule]

That makes sense thought it doesn't help me then. In that case I need to run avahi on each of the Linux devices right?

I will give it a try. If not can I use the cg3000 only as the cable modem and use a different router to serve dns?

Thanks

[TheEther]

Yes, you would need to run Avahi on each Linux device.

You should be able to use the CG3000 as only a modem.

Alternatively, you can keep the CG3000 as a router but disable its DHCP server and use a better DHCP server that can point devices at a local DNS server that you could set up. In fact, you could install DNSmasq on one of your Linux devices. DNSmasq is a powerful DNS and DHCP server, so it can perform both functions.

[thule]

I really only need to regularly access 3 devices by host name. So I just installed avahi and I am good. I will look in to the dnsmasq as I do have 3 Linux machines always on.

Thanks for your help