[mythtv-users] [Q] : Why only numeric IP addresses work?

[Joseph A. Caputo]

On Wednesday 18 February 2004 17:40, manu wrote:
> 	Hi all,
> I have a backend/frontend and another remote frontend (using a post
> 0.14 CVS). These are on a small LAN (the two of them only). If I
> setup the addresses numerically (ie master backend 192.168.0.1 and
> frontend 192.168.0.2) all works. The problem is the frontend is a
> laptop, so it is not always plugged on the lan, and when it is not
> the network is down and my local frontend do not find the backend
> anymore (the 192.168.0.1 IP is not valid anymore in that case). So I
> though let's put the hostname of the master backend instead (this
> will get resolved correctly as localhost via the host file even if
> the network is down), but then the remote frontend won't be able to
> connect to the backend. So it seems that the setup must be in numeric
> IP but I don't understand why this restriction. If someone could
> enlighten me ;-) And even better if it was possible to put
> mmedia.home as the address, that would make my life easier ;-)
> Thanks
> BYe
> Manu

I'm not sure I follow your description.  Let me see if I understand.  
You have:

192.168.0.1	desktop machine (backend/frontend)
192.168.0.2	laptop (remote frontend)

Correct so far?

Now, you say that when your laptop is not plugged in you *LAN* is down?  
You should still be able to do the following on your desktop machine:

	ping 192.168.0.1

and get a response.  If you can't, you have a problem.  Are you actually 
turning off the network interface in your desktop box?  Run the 
following command both when your LAN is "up" and when it's "down", and 
post the results:

	/sbin/ifconfig

Also, please describe your complete network setup in detail so that we 
can diagnose your problem.  By any chance are you running a 
point-to-point wireless network?

One thing you could try is the following:

Assuming your two boxes are named "deskmyth" and "lapmyth", you could 
set the Master Backend Address in the DB to "deskmyth".  Then in the /
etc/hosts file on "deskmyth" you'd set "deskmyth" to be "localhost" or 
"127.0.0.1".  On "lapmyth", you'd set /etc/hosts to map "deskmyth" to 
192.168.0.1, and you'd put "deskmyth" in the mysql.txt file.  Might 
work; I don't know if the Master Backend IP setting in the DB can be a 
host name or not.  To summarize, you'd have:

On "deskmyth":
MySQL: mythconverg.settings (MasterServerIP = "deskmyth")
/etc/hosts:
	127.0.0.1		localhost.localdomain localhost deskmyth

${HOME}/.mythtv/mysql.txt:
DBHostName=deskmyth


On "lapmyth":

/etc/hosts:
	127.0.0.1		localhost.localdomain localhost
	192.168.0.1	deskmyth
	192.168.0.2	lapmyth

${HOME}/.mythtv/mysql.txt:
DBHostName=deskmyth

I still think you need to fix some underlying problems with your network 
setup, though.

-JAC