Using DNS Host Names with ZebraNet Print Servers

DNS is a static, hierarchical name service for TCP/IP hosts. The network administrator configures the DNS Server with a list of host names and their corresponding IP addresses, allowing users of workstations configured to query the DNS server to specify remote systems by host names rather than IP addresses.

For example, a workstation configured to use DNS name resolution could use the command ping host name rather than ping 10.2.30.4 if the mapping for the remote system's host name  was contained in the DNS database.

The DNS data base look like this:

IP Address                     Host Name                                Notes

127.0.0.1                        local host                           #loop back address

192.168.10.5                  MyServer                          #File Server

192.168.10.20                PrintServer                        #ZebraNet Print Server

You do not need to configure anything on the ZebraNet Print Server to use DNS other than the standard TCP/IP settings.

There are 2 ways you can use a DNS Host Names with the Print Server.  One is to add a entry to a local host file on the workstation you want to use to communicate with the print server.  See entry above for example.  This solution works great for a couple PCs but can be labor intensive to maintain on larger networks.  That is where a DNS server is useful.  The DNS server acts as a central database for IP address to host name mappings.   This allows you to create the entry once and it is accessible by all workstations configured to use DNS. 

Some networks are configured so the DHCP server will update the DNS server with the printer's name after assigning IP address to the print server.  If using permanent IP addresses or the DHCP server does not update the DNS server, the addresses will have to be added manually to the DNS server.