How do I register Linux server with Windows DNS server

I have several Ubuntu machines (mostly 8.04) that I would like to register their hostnames (or desired hostnames) with my main DNS server running on Windows 2000 so that I can access these machines from any other machine using that DNS server by hostname. Windows clients can do this automatically with the MS client or manually with ipconfig /registerdns. How do I do the equivalent in Linux? I don't necessarily want to register them with the domain using Likewise Open, unless that is the only way to send DNS entries to the Windows server.

These are static IP's. I realize I could add the DNS entries on the Windows side manually as well, but I'm not actually in charge of that Windows DNS server.

Solution 1:

Sorry, I forgot to put in the question that these are static IP's. I realize I could add the DNS entries on the Windows side manually as well, but I'm not actually in charge of that Windows DNS server.

If you don’t have control of the DNS server, and if the DNS isn’t set up to allow non-secure updates, and it isn't set up to update based on DHCP assignments, and you have a static address, then you are probably out of luck.

Since this system has a static address, is there some reason you can’t just contact the person who runs the DNS server and ask them to add a record for your system?

Solution 2:

If you want the Linux machines to update DNS themselves, then the DNS zone(s) must be configured for nonsecure dynamic updates. Then if you have the Samba client installed, you can update the record manually like this:

net ads dns register -P

I'm not sure if this command requires you to be on the domain though.

Solution 3:

Have you considered configuring your Windows DHCP server to update DNS entries from the DHCP leases? This could achieve the desired result without any changes on the DNS server or Linux side of things.