How To Find a Computer Name from an IP Address in a LAN

In a Local Area Network (LAN), each device is assigned an IP address which is used to identify it. These IP addresses are often dynamic and can change over time. However, each device also has a unique computer name that remains constant. This article will guide you on how to find a computer name from an IP address in a LAN using various methods.

Using nmap

nmap is a powerful network scanning tool that can be used to discover hosts and services on a computer network. It can also be used to find a computer name from an IP address.

To use nmap, open your terminal and type the following command:

sudo nmap -sn <Your LAN Subnet>

For example:

sudo nmap -sn 192.168.1.*

The -sn option tells nmap to perform a simple ping scan, which is used to find up hosts without port scanning them. The * in the subnet is a wildcard that represents all possible IP addresses within the subnet.

This command will return a list of all active devices on your LAN, along with their IP addresses and hostnames.

Using nmblookup

nmblookup is a tool used to query NetBIOS names and map them to IP addresses in a LAN. It can be used to find a computer name from an IP address.

To use nmblookup, open your terminal and type the following command:

nmblookup -A <IP address>

For example:

nmblookup -A 192.168.1.2

The -A option tells nmblookup to perform a node status query on the specified IP address. This will return the NetBIOS name of the device, along with other information such as the device type and MAC address.

Using nslookup

nslookup is a network utility program used to obtain information about Internet servers. It can be used to find a computer name from an IP address.

To use nslookup, open your terminal and type the following command:

nslookup <IP address>

For example:

nslookup 192.168.1.2

This command will return the DNS hostname for the specified IP address.

Checking the DHCP Server

Most LANs use a DHCP server to dynamically assign IP addresses to devices. These servers often keep a record of the IP addresses they have assigned, along with the corresponding computer names.

To check the DHCP server, you will need to access its administrative interface. This is often a web page that can be accessed by typing the IP address of the DHCP server into your web browser. The exact method for accessing this information will vary depending on the make and model of your DHCP server.

Using nbtstat (Windows Only)

If you are using a Windows machine, you can use the nbtstat command to find a computer name from an IP address.

Open your command prompt and type the following command:

nbtstat -A <IP address>

For example:

nbtstat -A 192.168.1.2

The -A option tells nbtstat to display the NetBIOS name table of the remote computer specified by the IP address.

This command will return the NetBIOS name of the device, along with other information such as the device type and MAC address.

Conclusion

Finding a computer name from an IP address in a LAN can be done using a variety of methods. The method you choose will depend on your specific network configuration and the tools you have available. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to find the computer name associated with any IP address on your LAN.