IP address from NetBIOS name

I will use ping command for knowing the IP address, but for a default *nix system we cannot ping a node using its NetBIOS name. So with a minor edit we can do it all. Here's the process :

• Edit /etc/nsswitch.conf :

  $ vim /etc/nsswitch.conf

  Or use any other editor of your choice


• Search for something similar to this :

  hosts:          files mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns mdns4

  and add wins at the end of the line

  hosts:          files mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns mdns4 wins

  Save the file and exit


• Now use ping command :

  $ ping xyz

  You will get a output something like this :

  PING xyz (192.168.2.1) 56(84) bytes of data.

  Here 192.168.2.1 is the required IP

There may be different ways but I find this one quite simple.

Source(s) : Samba HOWTO