Useless router settings?

[Ichinisan]

From my D-Link DI-524's built-in web based interface:
Home>LAN>
"Local Domain Name [__________________] (Optional)"

Description from router's built-in "Help" button:
"Local Domain Name: (optional) Enter in the local domain name for the network."

I've seen LOTS of different routers with this setting. I've tried setting it as "myrouter" and pinging "myrouter", but it does not resolve to anything. I have to edit the hosts file to get this functionality.

More recently, I got curious and tried the setting again on my DI-524. It proceeded to royally screw up all my settings including my static DHCP settings.

It may be unrelated, but now all of my computers "Fail to clear the ARP cache" when I try to repair a network connection. This still occurs even after the router and PC's have all been restarted. They still obtain DHCP and can browse the Internet, but this is really weird...

I know that Linksys routers have non-functional DDNS features and partially functional DMZ support (no static DHCP regularly breaks forwarding settings when leases expire). Is this an example of a non-functional vestigal feature that most router manufacturers will never actually fix?


[edit]

Windows could not finish repairing the problem because the following action cannot be completed:
Clearing the ARP cache

 

[WPFossil]

If you have a domain, the setting will allow your router to join the domain.

The odds are you're not running a domain controller, so leave it blank.

 

[Ichinisan]

Thanks for the info.

How can a router "join a domain?" I was under the impression that a domain controller had user accounts/files/permissions. What purpose would it serve for a router to join a domain? What functionality would it add?

 

[spidey07]

It's really just used to tell the router what domain name to hand out to clients via DHCP.

they can't really join a domain in the microsoft sense. but normally things like domain name are sent to clients via DHCP.

 

[Ichinisan]

Great info. Thanks a lot, guys.