BIND Problems

[-wassup-]

Hi,
I set up a dns server on my Lan and created a Zone file for a .lan domain. I just wanted something that I could use instead of having to type in IPs of my different boxes all the time. But the problem is that it sometimes resolves and sometimes it is unable the resolve the name. Does anyone know what could be causing this?
-Alex

[mdwatts]

Originally posted by -wassup-
I just wanted something that I could use instead of having to type in IPs of my different boxes all the time.

Why not just define the ip addresses and hostnames in /etc/hosts for all your boxes?

192.168.1.2 xp1.domain.net xp1

192.168.1.3 xp2.domain.net xp2

192.168.1.4 linux1.domain.net linux1

192.168.1.5 linux2.domain.net linux2

Then you should be able to access each by their ip address, fully qualified domain name or hostname.

[bwkaz]

Since you installed bind, you must have also installed dig (at least, I think). What error does dig give you when you try to use it to look up the hostnames that are failing?

[-wassup-]

i dont use the hosts file because its annoying to do it on every box. i also set up BIND to learn. i do have dig installed and it works fine. the lookup error occurs from my xp box (i do have the slack box set as primary DNS). sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt. i cant do nslookup from the doze box because it will only use DNS servers that have a RDNS name.
; <<>> DiG 9.2.3 <<>> slack.lan
;; global options: printcmd
;; Got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 31964
;; flags: qr aa rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 0

;; QUESTION SECTION:
;slack.lan. IN A

;; ANSWER SECTION:
slack.lan. 38400 IN A 192.168.0.4

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
lan. 38400 IN NS slack.lan.lan.

;; Query time: 38 msec
;; SERVER: 127.0.0.1#53(127.0.0.1)
;; WHEN: Sun Feb 29 22:09:47 2004
;; MSG SIZE rcvd: 67

dig seems to be fine.