Resolved a network issue, but I don't understand why it worked.

[ixelion]

We have DSL Connection shared among some wired PC's. We recently enabled the WiFi connection on the router to allow access to internet and file sharing resources for various wireless devices.

The wireless devices had no trouble accessing the internet, but the Laptop and Media Streamer could not access any shared volumes on our NAS. Wired PC's had no trouble. The solution (found on some forum), was to simply type in the address of the DNS server in the "Host Name" field of the router!

Why would DNS need to be specified just for WiFi devices? After all if there was a DNS problem, then surely wired devices would fail too see each other as well, no? So obviously I know nothing about networking, but the resolution to this problem seems baffling.

So ATOT, humble me with your knowledge.

 

[kt]

Need more information.

What kind of router? And what do you mean typing in the "address of the DNS server in the 'Host Name' field of the router"?

 

[ixelion]

It's the WRT610N. On the config page of the router there is a field "Host Name" I had to type in the isp's DNS address to get the file sharing working.

I have noticed some other improvements to the network: previously I was unable to browse my workgroup PC's only connect directly. Now I am able to browse (this is with wired PCs). So looks like file sharing was never really working properly because there was no DNS server specified.

I still don't understand though, I thought DNS was only relevant in WAN?

 

[Nothinman]

DNS is relevant on any IP network. Windows just kind of works without it in small networks because it falls back to NetBIOS broadcasts to find machines, although that's pretty unreliable.

 

[ixelion]

So does that mean LAN setups without any internet connection only use Netbios, would you have to setup a DNS server? Is Netbios not available to WiFi devices?

I guess I should buy a book or something 😛

 

[Nothinman]

So does that mean LAN setups without any internet connection only use Netbios, would you have to setup a DNS server? Is Netbios not available to WiFi devices?

I guess I should buy a book or something 😛

The medium has no affect on upper layer protocols, as long as TCP/IP works on it then NetBIOS should as well. And networks without proper DNS essentially run on luck.