FileMaker Resolving DNS Names

[Jalz]

Hi Guys,

Can I get FM9 to resolve the DNS Name of the the Server. I was using statis IP addresses to identify machines, but no we've re-done our network, the techies want me to use the dns names to identify the computers. Is this possible, if so how?

Many Thanks

Jalz

[Genx]

Sure, just ask them for the server name, then you can open your file using:

fmnet:/{servernamehere}/filename.fp7

If that's what you you were asking - if its for something else then be more specific.

[Jalz]

Hi Genx,

Thanks for the reply. Sorry I was in a bit of a hurry and didn’t explain my self properly. My old setup, I had static ip addresses, in which my all transactions were logged to an IP address so I could reconcile which shop till took which amount of money at the end of the day.

Our IT guys have installed new switching and we have moved over to Vista. In the process they have said they do not want to assign static IP addresses to machines, why can't I store the DNS of the machine instead of the IP address. I can use the IP address to resolve the name of the machine....but I don't think FileMaker has inbuilt capability to do this.

Hope this makes sense.

[LaRetta]

but I don't think FileMaker has inbuilt capability to do this.

Ummm, FM can use the DNS name easily. Let IS give you the DNS name and just type the name where you usually put the IP, just as Alex suggested.

The beauty of this is that if IS changes the IP (for their many reasons), it won't affect you at all.

[Genx]

My old setup, I had static ip addresses, in which my all transactions were logged to an IP address so I could reconcile which shop till took which amount of money at the end of the day.

You mean within a calculation / script or something?

[Jalz]

Hi Both of you,

Thanks for taking the time out to reply. I think I may be using the wrong terminology here (I thought I would use what the IT guys have said, but I think I maybe mising it up...)

I basically need to store a value in a text field of a record which Identifies a machine the record was created on. I used to store the IP address of the machine as these were static, but I can't do this now as they are dynamic. I can't use the Get(AccountName) as every machine in our place is called IS department (its the way we roll out our software and profiles).

Is there anyway I can actually record the name of the machine in a text field?

Many Thanks

Jalz

[Genx]

What platform are these running on?

[Jalz]

MS Vista on a Windows 2003 server

[Genx]

You'll have to do this via an opening script (unless i'm missing an obvious get command which i don't think i am... but i could be).

1) Execute this command using send event script step

"cmd /c "ipconfig /all > " & Right( Get ( DocumentsPath ) ; Length(Get ( DocumentsPath )) -1 )  & "ipconfig.txt""

2) Wait a few seconds and import the resulting file to some temp table



3) Process the resulting record -> We want the value next to "Host Name". I've included an extract of part of my ipconfig /all output below. There is a space before the HostName value and a space after it.

Let( [x = "

Windows IP Configuration



   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . .  BRNHOALEX

   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . : 

   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Mixed

   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

   DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : real.mascon.com"

; 

HostNamePos = Position( x ; "Host Name" ; 1 ; 1 ) ; 

NamePos = Position( x ; ": " ; HostNamePos ; 1 ) + 2 ;

EndNamePos =  Position( x ; " " ; NamePos ; 1 ) ] ;



Middle ( x ; NamePos ; EndNamePos - NamePos )



)

[Jalz]

Thanks Genx,

I'll give it a go

[Genx]

Got bored and had nothing better to do anyway

http://www.filemakerdesign.com/blog/?bid=10

Okay admittedly maybe i did have something better to do, but doesn't change the fact that i got bored.