How to setup Fixed IP Win machines and still resolve DNS?

[dinomic]

Hi there,

I don't know if this has been asked before (can't seem to find it), but I was wondering whether, if you set up a Windows machine to have a fixed IP, can it still resolve all DNS that you set up with Amahi? Eg, at the moment, I'm only able to resolve "hda", but all other web apps are not accessible (eg phpMyAdmin, eXtplorer, etc).

This is how I'm setting up my fixed IP in Win7:
1) Go to the LAN properties
2) Go to "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)"
3) Select the "Use the following IP address:" radio button
4) Set the desired "IP address"
5) Subnet mask automatically gets set to 255.255.255.0
6) Set the "Default gateway" to be the IP address of the Amahi box
7) Set the Amahi box's IP address as the "preferred DNS Server"

After setting like this, I can still access the internet and the HDA, but can't access any of the other named machines/apps etc.

EDIT: Just noticed that I can access the machines/apps by using the fully qualified name (eg "phpmyadmin.home.com"). Just wondered if it's possible to use the shorter DNS version.

[bigfoot65]

Did you set the static IP address in the HDA dashboard? If you do that, you do not have to set anything on the Windows clients. As DHCP, it will get the same IP address assigned from the HDA every time. That will ensure you get the DNS from the HDA as well.

[dinomic]

Hi bigfoot65,

The static IP *wasn't* set in the "static IPs" section of the dashboard for this machine, but I've just done that and it's no different - I kinda knew that this would be the case, as another machine was set up like this and it too had issues.

To clarify, I can get to the fully qualified name (eg "phpmyadmin.home.com") but not the shorted version (eg "phpmyadmin") which works for all DHCP'ed machines.

[bigfoot65]

We are both talking about the HDA dashboard, correct? Also, you have to be using your HDA for DHCP/DNS and the router should have it's DHCP/DNS turned off. If not, you will have issues.

[snakey147]

Try the following if you want the clients to remain with static IP addresses:

In the Internet Protocol Version 4 properties, click Advanced button
Select the DNS tab at the top
In the box near the bottom where it says "DNS suffix for this connection" enter home.com
Click OK until you have closed the settings windows

You should now be able to access your other web apps with the short name.

Also, unless you are not connecting to the Internet, you will want to set the default gateway to be the IP Address of your router and not the HDA.

Hope that helps!

[dinomic]

snakey147, that's perfect! Now the fixed IP machines function in the same way as the DHCP machines (ie don't need the Fully Qualified DNS).

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you - the email notification of your response somehow went into my spam! :S

[dinomic]

Just to add that, to remove the need for ".home.com" on a Mac with a static IP address, do this:

1) Go to "System Preferences -> Network"
2) Click on the "Advanced" button
3) Click on the "DNS" tab
4) Add an entry for "home.come" (or whatever the domain for your setup!) in "Search Domains" by using the "+" button at the bottom
5) Click "Apply"

Then, you should be done!