TiVo Hostname

[glancep]

Is there a way to setup a network hostname for the tivo? I want to be able to access it without using the IP address everytime... I know I can add the IP to the hosts file in Windows\System32\Drivers\etc, but I still have to update that file anytime the IP changes.

I've read that it doesn't do any type of hostname resolution (ie: you can't access machines by hostname FROM the tivo), but to me that doesn't rule out being able to have a hostname itself.

I know some of the programs (like TyStudio) that you use to access your tivo say to enter your tivo's IP OR hostname, so I figure it must be possible.

Anybody know if it is, or better yet, know how I can set it up?

Thanks...
Gideon

[BubbleLamp]

Originally posted by glancep
Is there a way to setup a network hostname for the tivo? I want to be able to access it without using the IP address everytime... I know I can add the IP to the hosts file in Windows\System32\Drivers\etc, but I still have to update that file anytime the IP changes.

I've read that it doesn't do any type of hostname resolution (ie: you can't access machines by hostname FROM the tivo), but to me that doesn't rule out being able to have a hostname itself.

I know some of the programs (like TyStudio) that you use to access your tivo say to enter your tivo's IP OR hostname, so I figure it must be possible.

Anybody know if it is, or better yet, know how I can set it up?

Thanks...
Gideon

You already have the answer, setup a name in the hosts file. Then just assign a static IP to the Tivo and you don't have to worry about it changing. Or if you insist on using DHCP, configure your DHCP server to always assign a certain address to the Tivo, based on its MAC address. Nearly all DHCP servers can do this.

[glancep]

I don't mind setting a static IP for the tivo and using the hosts file, but I honestly don't know how to setup a static IP on the tivo. I'll be looking for instructions somewhere on the net, but if you happen to know right off hand (or can direct me where to look), I'd appreciate it.

Thanks...
Gideon

[joserizal]

First off, you need to call your ISP and tell them you want to have a web server in your network. If that is okay to your ISP, they will help you get your .com name or whatever you chose, and a static IP address. Then your ISP will put your name into a name server, the one that translates the hostname to an ipaddress and routes the request correctly. Then, you will have to poke an http route into your gateway or firewall if you have one. If you are using say a netgear or linksys firewall/gateway router, you need to access it's configuration menu, you have to go the section about http port (usually 80), and you have to configure allowing outside http requests be serviced by this firewall. Then, you need to configure the routing for this http request into your tivo, kinda like this;

outside internet http request (http://www.youregeektivo.com)-> nameserver translates (yourgeektivo -> 205.245.10.5 (your static ip address from your isp))-> your firewall decodes the request (20.5.245.10.5 allow http request -> routes to 192.268.0.5 (your internal network ipaddress for your tivo), then your tivo serves the request.

Now your firewall must also allow, this request to send data back outside into the firewall. Now after all these efforts, if some hacker knows about your tivoweb server, they can delete everything your have in your machine, just because your tivoweb server is not secured.

There your go...after all your effort....

-joserizal

[Plastic]

It's much easier than that. You don't need two IP addresses from your ISP. I am running WinXP internet connection sharing as my DHCP server. Tivo usually gets the same IP when he is booted (I only have one other PC using the shared connection). I'm not sure if you're using ICS or a router, but here's how it can be done with ICS.

Edit the hosts file as you indicated with whatever IP address you want. You don't have to let the server assign a random IP for ICS to work - you can set it to 192.168.0.whatever you want. The server is 192.168.0.1 The key is to edit the rc.init file on the TiVo to stop it from obtaining the DHCP IP address:

# mkdir -p /var/state/dhcp
# /sbin/dhclient -q "$DYNAMIC_NET_DEV" 2>/dev/null &
/sbin/ifconfig net0 192.168.1.201 netmask 255.255.255.0 up

I found that on another thread, I haven't actually tried it.

If you are using a router, then BubbleLamp already answered your question. I should also point out that if you ping 192.168.0.255 on the server when using ICS, he will drop down to whatever machine has the highest IP address - I leave my TiVo as DHCP assigned and ping that to find out he is actually 192.168.0.192 or whatever - in the rare case that he changes.

[Raymond Day]

I found this post and I saved it. It's not old I am not sure were I found it but looks like this will work. I have not tryed it. Here it is:

You'll need to make some additional changes to your TiVo if you want its name to appear in the router's DHCP Clients Table page. To do that, add the following line to /etc/dhclient.conf on your TiVo (you'll need full hacking support enabled on your TiVo to make this change):

interface \"eth0\" { send host-name \"TiVo\"; }

[glancep]

Thank you all very much, I really appreciate the help. I'm going to try some of the suggestions tomorrow--I'll let you know if there are any problems!

Thanks, and have a great week.
Gideon

[Raymond Day]

I did this from that post I found. I added that line and rebooted. I typed in the address bard http://TiVo but it comes back page not found. My Router did not show the name ether.

[Anonymouse]

Raymond Day:

I like the idea of the TiVo telling the dhcp router what it's own hostname is, especially since I have two DTiVo's.

However, there is no such file as /etc/dhclient.conf on my DTiVo. There is an /etc/tclient.conf, but not an /etc/dhclient.conf.

Can you help?

[Raymond Day]

I don't have a dhclient.conf name there too but a declient-script file and I put the line at the end of that file. The added line don't do nothing that I can find.

[philhu]

Create the dhclient.conf file

Put the line in it.

Works for me

[Raymond Day]

I made a file with textpad and just put the line in it like this:

interface \"eth0\" { send host-name \"TiVo\"; }

Then I saved it as a UNIX file and with a name dhclient.conf

I telnet to my tivo and did:

mount -o remount,rw

Then I FTP to my tivo and did:

cd /etc
bin
put "dhclient.conf"

Back in telnet I did:

cd /etc
chmod +x dhclient.conf
mount -o remount,ro
restart

When it booted back up no change. I go to my Routers DHCP Table and the host name is still blank for the IP address of my tivo.

What am I doing wrong if this does work?

[Anonymouse]

FWIW, I did effectively the same, but didn'd chmod. It didn't seem to work for me either. My router DHCP host client list still has blank for the host name of my tivo. FYI, it has nonblank for another computer on my network.

[blulite]

Leave the back-slashes out and all should be good.

Jeff

[Anonymouse]

blulite, that did the trick. THANKS.

Raymond Day and others, you do NOT have to chmod dhclient.conf as executable.

[Raymond Day]

Make a file name "dhclient.conf" and just put in it this 1 line:

interface "eth0" { send host-name "TiVo"; }

save it on your TiVo at /etc and now it has a host name :)

O the way to save stuff there is this command:

mount -o remount,rw /

Then make sure you set it back to not save there with this before you exit!

mount -o remount,ro /

Thank you blulite you got it right!

[Raymond Day]

Make a file called dhclient.conf and put in it this 1 line:

interface "eth0" { send host-name "TiVo"; }

telnet to tivo and do:

mount -o remount,rw /

Then FTP to tivo and do:

cd /etc
bin
put "dhclient.conf"

Back in telnet do:

mount -o remount,ro /
restart

[reggie3]

Giving my SA Tivo a hostname did work as I can see the name listed with my other computers in my router's DHCP table. However, trying to access my Tivoweb site using the name returns "the page can not be found" in Internet Explorer, even though I can access the Tivo using the IP address. Any thoughts?

[Anonymouse]

Yes, thoughts.

I have same problem. Evidently having the name in the router host table doesn't accomplish much.

I may later learn how to connect the dots between the above and the below, but for now, do the below.

Find your ALREADY EXISTING "hosts" file, no extension, probably in directory c:\windows\system or c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 or C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc

add a line like

XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX tivo

where XXX...XXX is the IP address.

[blulite]

Is the DNS server on the PC set to the router? Try these commands from a DOS shell and let me know what you get:

nslookup
(should return default server name which should be your router)

nslookup tivo
(should get the ip address of the tivo)

nslookup xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
(where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is the ip address as listed in the dhcp table on the router)

Can you "ping" the tivo?

Jeff

[Anonymouse]

nslookup
Default Server: ns.asm.bellsouth.net
Address: <helmut omitted for security>

nslookup tivo
*** Can't find addres for server tivo: Non-existent domain

nslookup 192.168.XXX.XXX <helmut omitted for security>
Server: [192.168.XXX.XXX]
Address: 192.168.XXX.XXX

Note I do have hosts file setup.

[blulite]

So your getting all of you host entries from bellsouth, but bellsouth has no information about your local private ip addresses.

You need to change your DNS settings on your local PC to come from your router. Do this:

nslookup tivo xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx (the x's are the ip address for your router). You will see that the router knows about your tivo.

do an "ipconfig /all" and post the results.

Jeff

[Anonymouse]

nslookup "tivo-2" 192.168.123.254 returns
*** Can't find server name for address 192.168.123.254: Non-exiistent domain
Server: Unknown
Address: 192.168.123.254

Are you sure the nslookup syntax is right?

My router DOES respond to ping 192.168.123.254

Afraid to post ipconfig/all results. Can you answer with placeholders?

Does my SMC barricade, software R1.93s , support the nslookup?

[blulite]

correct, your router does not do DNS. time to add the entry in your hosts file, or get a better router.

jeff

[Anonymouse]

Thanks.

I ordered a Lynxsys Wireless-G/4-switch router from Amazon this past weekend. It should be arriving soon. I'll give it a shot.

-Helmut

[reggie3]

Giving my SA Tivo a hostname did work as I can see the name listed with my other computers in my router's DHCP table. However, trying to access my Tivoweb site using the name returns "the page can not be found" in Internet Explorer, even though I can access the Tivo using the IP address. Any thoughts?

[3v0]

This is great. It was the last bit I needed.

I just finished setting up a smoothwall Express 2.0 router.
The smoothwall dhcp table shows the tivo's names and nslookup/dig
shows that the names are mapped to the ip's by the smoothwall
name server proxy. Sweet !

To get it to work I applied 4 user mods to the router scripts and created
the dhcleint.conf file on each tivo.

The smoothwall router code (runs on a old PC) is at www.smoothwall.org
If anyone is interested in giving it a try I can provide info on which
patches to use and where to find them.

3v0


Make a file called dhclient.conf and put in it this 1 line:

interface "eth0" { send host-name "TiVo"; }

telnet to tivo and do:

mount -o remount,rw /

Then FTP to tivo and do:

cd /etc
bin
put "dhclient.conf"

Back in telnet do:

mount -o remount,ro /
restart