hostname resolution across 2 subnets

cr9c1

I have OpenVPN server running on Ubuntu Server 12.04 LTS. The server sits behind a Linksys Router running DD-WRT, with dnsmasq for DNS/DHCP for the lan. The LAN subnet is 192.168.2.0/24. OpenVPN is set up to hand out IPs in 192.168.4.0/23. I am using a TUN routed vpn setup. Everything is working great. Clients connect, get their IP address, I have a static route in my dd-wrt router so I can route to PCs on the VPN subnet, and I have "pushed" the route for the LAN subnet to the VPN clients. I have also pushed the DNS for the LAN/dd-wrt to the clients.

However, hostname resolution does not work. For instance, PC1 on the LAN has a hostname of mycomp-pc. I cannot ping or lookup mycomp-pc from a VPN client. I can ping the IP address, and access shares by \\<ip address>, but hostname resolution does not work. Hostname resolution does work on my LAN, however but I believe this to be because I have static DHCP leases configured for dnsmasq.

I need a way to make hostname resolution work. I've come up empty handed thus far. From what I gather, it seems that most people who had success have a pseudo-domain set up, such as locallan, or my.lan, and both the VPN clients and LAN clients become part of this 'domain' and can search by the hostname only portion, but I'm at a loss on how to start or where to go to get local name resolution working. If anyone has a howto or could provide some assistance, or guidance, I would appreciate it. Everything server-to-client and back is working perfect, except I don't know how to get name resolution working. Ideally, I would like it to be automatic. I connect as a VPN client, it registers the computers name on the localdns, and I can hit it from PCs in my LAN and through the VPN.

Or would I just be better off running a WINS server and pushing that? I figured DNS would be the best option but have no idea how to configure it.

maikcat

However, hostname resolution does not work. For instance, PC1 on the LAN has a hostname of mycomp-pc. I cannot ping or lookup mycomp-pc from a VPN client. I can ping the IP address, and access shares by \\<ip address>, but hostname resolution does not work

this is normal behavior..

if you want your vpn clients to resolve hostnames on your openvpn server lan side you can:

1)use static resolution (hosts file)
2)use wins service and push it to your clients
3)use dns service and push it to your clients
4)switch to bridge mode

Michael.