Ping/Identify Computers By Computer Name In Windows

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Some routers (like the Fritz!Box) provide DNS names for all computers in a network – based on the computer names.

For example, in my network I have a Windows computer called Beeblebrox and a Linux computer called Marvin. They can be reached by name through beeblebrox.fritz.box and marvin.fritz.box respectively.

When I’m on my Linux computer I can just type ping beeblebrox and will ping my Windows computer.

When I’m on my Windows computer on the other hand, this doesn’t work – at least not out of the box. 

C:\Users\manski>ping marvin
Ping request could not find host marvin. Please check the name and try again.

To make this work, …

  1. go the Control Panel, then System.
  2. In the left sidebar click on Advanced system settings.
  3. The dialog “System Properties” will open. Choose the tab Computer Name and click on Change….
  4. The dialog “Computer Name/Domain Changes” will open. Here, click on More…
  5. Enter the DNS suffix in the box.

  6. Confirm all dialogs with “OK” and restart the computer afterwards.

set-domain-suffix.png

Now you can ping/identify any computer on the same network by using just its name: 

C:\Users\manski>ping marvin

Pinging marvin.fritz.box [192.168.42.5] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.42.5: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.42.5: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64