If your ping returns the “Ping request could not find host” error try these fixes in the order discussed below.
The Problem
Computers in a network communicate via their IP addresses. But, to make it easy for humans to identify computers, every computer is assigned a name.
So, instead of typing the IP address of a computer – for example, 192.168.0.50 – it is easier to use a name like ADServer1.
But how is the name of a computer linked to its IP address?
This is done via a service called Domain Name Service (DNS). A DNS server translates the name of a computer to its IP address.
But what do all these have to do with the “Ping request could not find host” error?
Well, when you perform a ping request using the name of a computer, a DNS server translates the name to the IP address of the computer, and then ping contacts the computer using its IP address.
However, if a DNS server is not configured on the computer you’re performing the ping from, the computer returns the error “Ping request could not find host.”
So, whenever you receive this error message, the solution is to review the DNS configuration settings of the computer you’re initialing the ping request from.
A DNS server is configured in two ways – 1, automatically via a DHCP server; 2, by manual assignment.
If your environment assigns IP addresses and DNS servers via DHCP, use the fix in solution 1 below. However, if IP addresses and DNS servers are assigned manually, use my fix in solutions 2 and 3.
Solution 1: Add DNS Settings in the DHCP Scope
As well as assigning IP addresses to clients, a DHCP server can assign DNS server IPs. However, to do that, the DHCP scope must be configured with the DNS server details.
Read this guide – Set the DNS Server IP Address on the DHCP Server – to configure the required settings.
Solution 2: Check the DNS Entry in TCP/IP
If the DNS server IP address set on the TCP/IP of the computer you’re performing the ping is wrong, it may cause the host not found error. Follow these steps to check it is correct.
- Search “network” (without the quotes), then, select View network connections.”
- Double-click the network adapter to open it. Then, click Properties to open the TCP/IP properties of the NIC.
- After that open the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and confirm that the Preferred DNS Server is the IP address of your DNS server.
Solution 3: Configure Append DNS Suffixes
After confirming that the DNS is configured correctly if you still receive the error message, follow these steps to configure append DNS suffixes:
- From the last step of solution 2, click “Advanced.”
- Then, click the DNS tab, select “Append these DNS suffixes (in order), and click Add.
- Enter the FQDN of your Active Directory domain and click Add. After that click OK all through to save your changes.
After modifying these settings, when you ping a computer by its name, the DNS server finds the host and resolves its hostname to an IP address.
Conclusion
The “Ping request could not find host” error is caused by DNS misconfiguration or incomplete configuration. I have discussed 3 ways to fix this problem and I’m confident that one of the solutions worked for you.
Let me know which of them worked for you by responding to “Was this page helpful?” below.
