up vote 5 down vote favorite
2
share [g+] share [fb]

I have a MacBook running Snow Leopard in our company's internal network, which is basically a Windows domain network. Our TO department complains about my MacBook not specifying a name to the DHCP server. Accordingly, the MacBook isn't resolvable by anything else than its IP address from our Windows workstations.

I already

  • set the NetBIOS name in the Network settings in the OSX Control Panel
  • set the DHCP Client ID in the Network settings in the OSX Control Panel
  • set the "Computer Name" in Control Panel > Sharing.
  • set the hostname using sudo scutil --set HostName MACBOOK001 (and rebooted)

... but all of that didn't solve the problem.

Can anyone tell me how to make OSX register its hostname to the DHCP server so that it can be reachable e.g. using ping MACBOOK001

link|improve this question
feedback

3 Answers

up vote 4 down vote

I'd say the problem is on the DHCP server end rather than your MacBook. The Windows DHCP server has a number of options for updating DNS records, and can behave a bit differently for clients that are or are not members of the domain. In the Windows 2003 version, there is a checkbox for updating clients that do not request updates (It mentions NT clients). From memory, I think that is what you will need to ensure is checked.

link|improve this answer
GREAT point. Although I mentioned that what he was describing was actually DNS-related, there is that checkbox in the DHCP server configuration, and it is not checked by default. – KCotreau May 30 '11 at 14:49
feedback
up vote 3 down vote

I am experiencing this same problem using MacOS X 10.7.2 (client) and Windows Server 2008 R2 (DHCP and DNS server). The Mac registers with DHCP fine, but cannot register its hostname.

Shortening the Mac's hostname seems to fix the problem. After some crude experiments, I have found that hostnames longer than 16 characters prevent the Mac from registering its hostname with DNS, while hostnames 16 or shorter work fine. This limit only applies to the machine hostname, not the FQDN.

So, try shortening your Mac's hostname to be 16 characters or less. Please post back if this works - I'd be interested to hear!

link|improve this answer
1  
Oh, and you'll also need Barryj's option set. Windows DHCP config > Rightclick the scope > Properties > DNS Tab > Enable all checkboxes and the bottom radio button. – RusNewman Dec 9 '11 at 23:43
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

First, you are trying to register it to the DNS server, which handles resolution. You may be looking in the wrong area for settings to change.

Search DNS on the first document, and see if any of their suggestions help you. I also included a couple others, which looked helpful. There are known bugs, so there might not be a simple answer without troubleshooting, and knowing specifics about your local domain.

http://www.macwindows.com/snowleopardAD.html http://hintsforums.macworld.com/showthread.php?t=104825 http://www.applesource.com.au/how-to/soa/Connect-a-Mac-to-Windows-Small-Business-Server/0,2000451082,339287478,00.htm

link|improve this answer
See barryj's comment and ask your Windows administrator to make sure that box is checked, and that he restarts the service after checking it. – KCotreau May 30 '11 at 14:51
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.