[COLUG] Lan hostname to IP resolution

[William Yang]

david riggs wrote:
> What is the best (or easiest?) way to set up so that the system can 
> figure out for itself the IP address for each machine (as it changes 
> over the days).

Note that this discussion is general, and applies to a lot of platforms. 
It *can* be done in Linux, so I'm on topic.  ;-)

You either need to set IPs static on your LAN (not recommended) or use a 
better network infrastructure (DHCP and/or DNS server, in this case).  The 
*easiest* thing to do is use a DHCP server that can statically map an IP to 
a MAC address, so that "listed" devices always come up with the same IP. 
Once you do that, you just update your host files appropriately.  A more 
general solution would be to use a DHCP server that will update a local DNS 
service.

Things like OpenWRT are a good solution for something like this.  I'm also 
personally fond of m0n0wall on PC-style hardware.  There are a lot of 
solutions for the NAT/Firewall with some level of DNS/DHCP functionality 
and maybe a VPN solution out there.

For home use, I tend to think the critical functionality for a network 
includes:

	DNS
	DHCP
	Firewall/NAT
	VPN solution inbound, for remote access to your stuff as needed
	SMB file and print sharing (for spouse/SO/kids who use Windows)
	WINS (nmbd) windows naming (also for said spouse/SO/kids

The real thinking process can be summarized in a sentence, though:  don't 
just use some low-end consumer-grade platform, if you want to do more than 
low-end consumers are going to want to do:  use a set of tools that can do 
what you want.

	-Bill
-- 
William Yang
wyang at gcfn.net