How To Register Lubuntu Hostname with DNS Server in Active Directory Domain

In this article, we will guide you through the process of registering a Lubuntu hostname with a DNS server in an Active Directory domain. This can be a crucial step in managing your network infrastructure, as it allows your Lubuntu host to be recognized by name, rather than just by IP address, within your domain.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure that your Lubuntu system is configured correctly and is part of the Active Directory domain. If it’s not, you may need to join your Lubuntu system to the domain first.

Configuring the DHCP Client

The first step in registering your Lubuntu hostname with the DNS server involves configuring the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) client. This can be done by editing the dhclient.conf file.

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Type in the following command to open the dhclient.conf file in a text editor:

sudo nano /etc/dhcp/dhclient.conf

This command uses sudo to run the nano text editor with administrator privileges, which is necessary to edit the dhclient.conf file.

3. In the dhclient.conf file, look for the lines:

send fqdn.fqdn "myhost.my.corp.domain";
send fqdn.encoded on;
send fqdn.server-update off;

These lines control how your Lubuntu host communicates its Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) to the DHCP server.

4. Change the send fqdn.server-update line to on:

send fqdn.server-update on;

This change allows your Lubuntu host to update the DNS server with its hostname.

5. Save the changes to the dhclient.conf file by pressing Ctrl + X, then Y, then Enter.

Releasing and Renewing the DHCP Lease

After editing the dhclient.conf file, you will need to release your current DHCP lease and obtain a new one. This can be done with the following commands:

sudo dhclient -r
sudo dhclient

The -r option in the first command tells the DHCP client to release its current lease, and the second command obtains a new lease.

Setting the FQDN as the Linux Hostname

If you are using System Security Services Daemon (SSSD) for integration with Active Directory, you can set the FQDN as the Linux hostname using the hostnamectl command:

hostnamectl set-hostname examplename.mydomain.mysuffix

This command sets the hostname of your Lubuntu system to examplename.mydomain.mysuffix.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to register your Lubuntu hostname with the DNS server in your Active Directory domain. This will allow your Lubuntu host to be recognized by name within your network, making it easier to manage and troubleshoot.

Please note that these solutions may not work if your Active Directory domain has a different method of registering hostnames with the DNS server. Always consult your network administrator or IT department if you are unsure.