On Sat, 12 Oct 2019 at 15:49, Samuel Sieb <samuel@sieb.net> wrote:
On 10/12/19 7:25 AM, Angelo Moreschini wrote:
> /Thank you for your answers which provided me with useful basics on how
> Linux establishes DNS./
>
> /However, even reading other documentation, I am still not clear what
> mechanisms for which a computer becomes accessible in the LAN through
> its name:/

[...]
You would only setup bind if you want to use a full domain setup on your
local network.  Most people have no need of this.

Summary:
In a default setup, host name resolution is, in order of priority:
/etc/hosts/, mdns, and dns.
You probably don't want to maintain a hosts file for all the computers
on your network, especially if you are using DHCP.
DNS is generally way overkill and more work to manage.
The easiest method is to use mdns, otherwise known as Bonjour on Macs
and probably some other names.  Use "hostnamectl set-hostname myname" to
set a unique name on each computer.  Make sure "avahi-daemon" is running
(should be).  Make sure you have "nss-mdns" installed (should be by
default).  Then you should be able to do "ping myname" (using whatever
name you set earlier).

Bonjour is often found on Windows machines.   It was often installed by
printer drivers and other network clients (e.g., home automation).    
Windows 10 has had several iterations of something resembling mDNS.
You can't rely on it working after each update.   Meanwhile, Apple 
Bonjour has a serious bug (due to missing quotes, it can used to 
run "C:\Programs" with full privileges, so if a bad guy can install malware
as a regular use and call it "C:\Programs", they own your system.  Bonjour
is often banned from corporate networks, so if your network has Windows 
machines you should be prepared to use the 
"C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts" file.  Editing this file does require 
administrative super-powers.


--
George N. White III