Freebsd dhcp client from a Windows dhcp server

Dillweed · #1 September 3rd, 2009, 17:13

Hey all,

I think this might be a better question for a windows forum, however this problem did not exist when using a linux distro.

I have a freebsd server as a dhcp client on the network. I can get an IP address no problem, however I can not resolve the IP address using the common name (freebsd.xxx.com). Now, I didn't have this particular problem using linux so I thinking it might exist as a freebsd problem with the dhcp client, rather than a windows issue. Or possibly something that I have not set in the dhclient.conf file...if that is necessary as my dhclient.conf is blank.

I do have /etc/rc.conf set as

Code:

hostname="freebsd.CHS.HOME"
ifconfig_xl0="DHCP"

and as far as I can see that is all I need to do for a dhcp client.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any knowledge into correcting this?

Thanks in advance.

Alt · #2 September 3rd, 2009, 18:41

May be you need to set up default dns servers to give it dhcp clients..
Can you ping an internet IP?

Dillweed · #3 September 3rd, 2009, 19:44

Unfortunately I'm not the network admin so I don't know how the dns server is setup. The funny thing is that the windows clients can resolve each other as well as a ubuntu server that we had going. I wonder why the windows clients can see the freebsd server.

I've actually noticed this on my network at home. The linux and windows clients can resolve each other via common names, but the freebsd can't. Why is that?

Thanks for the help

Alt · #4 September 3rd, 2009, 19:47

Seems there is a domain, not just dhcp =)

Dillweed · #5 September 3rd, 2009, 20:04

Well yes this is a domain. The freebsd can ping internet sites. But my question is on the local network, why doesn't the windows computers see the freebsd machine. I don't think I need a dns outside the local network to see an internal machine, right?

Still my question is why the windows machines can resolve each other using the local network names, but the windows machines can't resolve the freebsd machine.

Dillweed · #6 September 3rd, 2009, 20:05

Dang can't edit posts. I mean to say yes we have a domain, but having a outside domain name shouldn't matter when it comes to finding an internal computer.

**DutchDaemon** · #7 September 3rd, 2009, 20:30

What's in /etc/resolv.conf on the FreeBSD vs the Linux machine(s)?

**SirDice** · #8 September 4th, 2009, 08:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dillweed

The freebsd can ping internet sites.

Which means name resolving works.

Quote:

But my question is on the local network, why doesn't the windows computers see the freebsd machine.

Because there's usually nothing running on a bsd box that presents itself to a windows machine. Or do you mean the hostname of the bsd box cannot be resolved on a windows box?

Quote:

I don't think I need a dns outside the local network to see an internal machine, right?

This would be a security risk, so no.

Quote:

Still my question is why the windows machines can resolve each other using the local network names, but the windows machines can't resolve the freebsd machine.

Ah, right. Does your network use Dynamic DNS? It could be the fbsd machine isn't sending its hostname to the dhcp server, hence no name will be registered in DDNS.

Dillweed · #9 September 4th, 2009, 16:30

Thanks for the replies. Yes my problem is that the windows boxes can't resolve the hostname for the bsd computer. I guessing that the freebsd computer is not sending its hostname. I have tried setting the dhclient.conf to send the hostname but even that doesn't work. Yet, I would guess the bootup scripts do the same thing with the hostname from /etc/rc.conf. I guess I'm missing something, but for the life of me I can't figure out what it is.

Thanks for the help all.

**SirDice** · #10 September 4th, 2009, 16:41

Have a look on the Windows DHCP server. See if the fbsd box registered properly there. If that works it's a DHCP-DDNS issue.

Dillweed · #11 September 5th, 2009, 07:58

I wish I had access to the windows box that is assigning ip's but I don't. I'll ask the IT dude to see what he says and get back to you all.

But the bigger issue here is the fact that when we were testing a linux box (ubuntu) the windows clients could resolve the linux hostname without problems and nothing changed within the dhcp server. Is freebsd not sending something that it should to the dhcp server or is it something else?

Thanks for the help!

**SirDice** · #12 September 5th, 2009, 10:02

Also make sure the hostname is set correctly (that's including the domain name) in /etc/rc.conf.

Dillweed · #13 September 10th, 2009, 01:15

Sorry about the delay, I was waiting to get with the IT admin to discuss this situation. We are using windows 2003 server and after investigating some of the settings on the windows server it appears that freebsd is not setting an "A" record on the local dns server that resides on Windows 2003. I'm not a networking guru, so honestly I'm sure what that means. The admin can set the "A" record manually and then the windows clients can resolve the hostname for freebsd. But my question still remains why doesn't freebsd no set an "A" record on the local dns server, but ubuntu or linux, in general, does?

Here is what I have in my rc.conf file

Code:

hostname="freebsd.xxx.xxxx"
keyrate="fast"
linux_enable="YES"
saver="logo"
sshd_enable="YES"
ifconfig_xl0="DHCP"
mysql_enable="YES"
apache22_enable="YES"
sendmail_enable="NONE"

We are still trying to determine what the problem might be here, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Unable to find DHCP server	BSDRich	Installing & Upgrading	1	July 6th, 2009 15:46
Odd network issue, FreeBSD, DHCP, and Windows XP	tygarys	Networking	15	June 2nd, 2009 09:02
[Solved] DHCP server	bloodhound	Web & Network Services	2	May 5th, 2009 09:25
Pxeboot and Windows DHCP	ftomza	Networking	2	March 14th, 2009 12:55
net install using Windows 2003 Server for TFTP and DHCP - possible?	stringchopper	Installing & Upgrading	1	February 5th, 2009 21:43