Cable ISP not assigning hostnames to clients - how to workaround?

[Valhalla1]

My cable ISP gives out basically static IP's, but when you are disconnected form the network for a few days then sometimes it may change. There are different subnets that it assigns ip's to, one of which also assigns hostnames (ala cdm-xx-blablah.tcac.net) and the other main subnet doesn't assign hostnames, only gives you ip addresses.

Anyway, it now seems that all my computers are on the non-hostname subnet, and I need to have all my computers on the network on the same subnet (or else they don't see each other in Network Neighborhood and transfering files between them sends it thru the cable modem and back.. thats another story)

Basically, I can assign hostnames to them with free hostname providers like dhs.org, but they don't show up in my ISP's DNS. When I connect to irc, I show up as "ident@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" and not "ident@my-computer.hostname.com", and only a few EFnet servers allow you to connect if you don't have a hostname (irc.idle.net, irc.core.com, and irc.mcs.net).

Is there any way to make mycomputer.dhs.org show up as the hostname, and when you /whois me in irc, that's what shows up?

Do I have to ask my ISP to enable that in their DNS records? what are the chances of that happening?

 

[SufferinSuccotash]

You'll have to register your IP address to get a domain name. This only works when you leave your computer on all the time so you keep the same IP address (I've had the same IP address for a year now). Maybe try a dynamic dns registrar, there are even some that are free, but I doubt that you'll get a .com address (or maybe you will. I am not sure exactly about the particulars of it).

 

[Valhalla1]

well, see this isnt the issue, I've already got several domain names I use for various purposes, and I have subdomains assigned to my computers already. I can alter the DNS whenever I need to, but the problem I want to solve is how to get my ISP to enter in their DNS settings to enable reverse-dns lookup from my subdomain to my ip address, which remains static (my server has had this ip for about 6 months). Like I said, it only changes when I an off the network for several days, and then it only rarely changes

 

[Ladi]

You need an authoritative dns server in order for your IP to show up as what's registered (ie, one of your own domains). Your best bet is to call up your cable company and request *always* getting a hostname.

More info available at http://www.intac.com/~cdp/cptd-faq/section4.html#serverauth

~Ladi

 

[Valhalla1]

k. thanks a lot for the info!