Laptop does not always recognise server

[Derek Broughton]

John wrote:

> I have a SuSE 10.0 server on my LAN which is the server for both my
> laptops. By name, I mean FQDN i.e. "Server.DMJ-Consultancy.local". This
> works from U6.06 but not from U8.04 on the same LAN although both
> machines are getting their IP addresses from the DHCP server also
> running on the same server. 

OK, this is what I wanted.  Because if you have a local DNS it makes quite a
difference.

> This server also provides my DNS for the 
> .local domain and I have not configured the hosts file on either machine
> to achieve the above results.
> 
> You asked for /etc/hosts and hostname -f; the information for each
> laptop follows:
> 
>  From the U8.04 machine:
> john at Train1:~$ hostname -f
> Train1

So, you're not actually getting a DNS resolution.  It _should_ be
Train1.DMJ-Consultancy.local or at least Train1.local

Does your /etc/dhcp3/dhclient.conf contain:

 send host-name "<hostname>";

?

What's in /etc/resolv.conf?

-- 
derek