To find the hostname of a computer with a public IP address is very easy – by passing the address to any Domain Name System (DNS) server.
But since most computers have private IP addresses, we can only discover their hostnames if the network has a local DNS server. To discover the hostname of a computer with a private IP address and no local DNS server, you need to use a Windows utility to query the host itself.
How to find the hostname of a computer with a private IP address and local DNS server:
- Click the Windows Start button, then “All Programs” and “Accessories.” Right-click on “Command Prompt” and choose “Run as Administrator.”
- Type “nslookup %ipaddress%” in the black box, substituting %ipaddress% with the IP address for which you want to find the hostname.
- Locate the line labeled “Name” underneath the line with the IP address you entered. The value next to “Name” is the hostname of the computer.
How to find the hostname of a computer with a private IP address and without local DNS server:
- Click the Windows Start button, then “All Programs” and “Accessories.” Right-click on “Command Prompt” and choose “Run as Administrator.”
- Type “nbtstat -A %ipaddress%” at the command prompt in the black window that opens, substituting the IP address for “%ipaddress%.”
- Find the NETBIOS table in the results. Locate a row where the type is “UNIQUE” and find the hostname of the computer in the “Name” column for that row.
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