I am having a problem with one of the computers on my network -- call them Computers A, B, and C. Most of the time, other computers on the LAN (B and C) cannot ping Computer A by computer name; however, they can ping it by IP address, as well as access its shares using the IP.
Sometimes, though, everything works perfectly, meaning I can ping computera or access \\computera\ to view shares. Most of the times, though, this doesn't work, and I have to use the IP to access it.
Now, I've tried getting on this computer and trying the reverse (that is, ping Computer B or C on my network), and that works fine. So basically, it's the same story for both B and C -- they can ping A by IP address, and it's rare that they can by computer name. And A has no trouble pinging B or C, by IP or hostname.
All computers are running XP Pro with SP2 or SP3. Computer A is connected wirelessly, and has no firewall running or other Internet security software.
I have tried ipconfig /flushdns and ipconfig /registerdns. I have also tried resetting the TCP/IP stack on Computer A.
So... any idea what gives? It's a crazy problem. I can't understand why it's sporadic, why sometimes I can access the computer by computer name, but most of the times I need to use the IP address.
I think I have definitely narrowed the problem down to Computer A, since B and C respond the same way and can communicate with each other just fine. Initially, I wondered if something might be wrong with the DNS on the router, but since B and C have no problems with each other, I'm pretty sure the problem is with A itself.
The only possible fix I can think of is to manually edit the HOSTS file in Windows on every computer on the network and map the computer name "computera" to its IP address. I'm guessing this would work, however I really don't want to do this. There are ~20 computers on the network, and I'd rather not have to do this.
Finally, if it matters, my router is an old computer running IPCop, which is based on Squid Proxy, I believe.
I'd love to hear any ideas on what could be causing this. Thanks!!
- Luke
Sometimes, though, everything works perfectly, meaning I can ping computera or access \\computera\ to view shares. Most of the times, though, this doesn't work, and I have to use the IP to access it.
Now, I've tried getting on this computer and trying the reverse (that is, ping Computer B or C on my network), and that works fine. So basically, it's the same story for both B and C -- they can ping A by IP address, and it's rare that they can by computer name. And A has no trouble pinging B or C, by IP or hostname.
All computers are running XP Pro with SP2 or SP3. Computer A is connected wirelessly, and has no firewall running or other Internet security software.
I have tried ipconfig /flushdns and ipconfig /registerdns. I have also tried resetting the TCP/IP stack on Computer A.
So... any idea what gives? It's a crazy problem. I can't understand why it's sporadic, why sometimes I can access the computer by computer name, but most of the times I need to use the IP address.
I think I have definitely narrowed the problem down to Computer A, since B and C respond the same way and can communicate with each other just fine. Initially, I wondered if something might be wrong with the DNS on the router, but since B and C have no problems with each other, I'm pretty sure the problem is with A itself.
The only possible fix I can think of is to manually edit the HOSTS file in Windows on every computer on the network and map the computer name "computera" to its IP address. I'm guessing this would work, however I really don't want to do this. There are ~20 computers on the network, and I'd rather not have to do this.
Finally, if it matters, my router is an old computer running IPCop, which is based on Squid Proxy, I believe.
I'd love to hear any ideas on what could be causing this. Thanks!!
- Luke