TiVo Host Name

[DrStephenCW]

Hi,

My home network is on the large side - six computers (wired connections), two TiVos (wireless), four Nintendo DSs (wireless), PDA (wireless), Xbox and PS2 (wireless via a bridge), a double firewall setup (wireless access to internet and then another firewall to keep wireless war drivers outside of our wired home network), and so on.

Anyway, I decided, since I'm basically the home networking and computer maintenance guy for our family to try to centralize administration of our computers and TiVos. One step was to set up DHCP so that I assigned static IP addreses from the various gadgets MAC addresses so that stuff wasn't changing IP addresses all the time; plus everything shows up in a beautiful list in the browser interface to the router(s)). (I know I can set the address statically in the TiVo and if I can't solve the problem below I will do that.)

Okay, so, the question is this ...

part one: one of our TiVos had a harddrive crash and was upgraded at Weaknees. The name of that TiVo now shows up as Tivo_13123123 (a bunch of numbers); meanwhile, the other TiVo shows up as TivoUpstairs, which is a name I gave it .... somehow. Somehow, a couple of years ago, I was able to name our TiVos. I don't remember how. I know I can name them at the TiVo web site, but those names only show up in the Desktop program or on the TiVo Now Playing lists for transfers, and are different from the host names. The name I am concerned about is the host name inside the Tivo. Fixing this is not important but I would be cool to name the machines properly, again, to make it easy to keep track of them as our crazy network grows.

part two: this is more interesting. Both Tivos have the same linksys wireless adaptor which works fine. Both of them report a rational MAC address in the Tivo setup screen. But only one of them - the upgraded Tivo - will respond to the static IP address I programmed into the router. It's so strange; the browser (for the router) reports a garbled MAC address, so the non-upgraded Tivo always gets a dynamic DHCP address instead of the one I put into the router table. Anyone know anything about MAC addresses getting garbled?

Thanks in advance - I know this is overly techy.

[lafos]

IIRC, the TiVo host name can be entered in network setup, but only if switching from static IP to DHCP. If you don't have a name, then the one from tivo.com is used. Try switching from dynamic to static and then back. Also, try to change the name at tivo.com. Maybe if the site sees a new name, it will download it to your box.

I've never heard of a garbled MAC address. Sounds like a firmware issue in the adapter. If it's under warranty, you might see about getting it replaced.

[worachj]

Part one: I think you’re talking about changing your DHCP Client ID. You change it on your Tivo under network connections. Go to “Phone and Network” settings. And change your network settings. After you enter your Network name (SSID) and password keep advancing through the screens until you get to a screen which asks if you require a DHCP Client ID. Say yes and you will be able to change it there.

Part two: I don’t think the “the non-upgraded Tivo” is setup properly. Go to “Phone and Network” settings. And change your network settings to use a static IP address.

[DrStephenCW]

Thanks to both of you. When I go through network settings, even switching between static and dynamic ip addresses, it just says, "Your Tivo will use your new settings." and never offers me a chance to change the name. I have software version 7.3.1.

I did set my "TivoUpstairs" to static and then dynamic and now the dynamic DHCP is working. Interestingly, though, it lost its host name! Now both Tivos have TIVO_<numbers> for names. Oh well. (It looks like their serial numbers, so I just need to remember that the one that starts with 140 is the old one and 240 is the new one. Sad. I liked having names!)

So, summary, so far: switching between static and dynamic seems to have reset things on the confused TiVo, which is good, but now both have serial numbers for names. *Sigh*

[miketoth1001]

Sorry for butting in, but isn't the hostname held in the hosts file in the /etc sub-dir? It is on all the linux boxes I run at work.

I might be incorrect as I am new to Tivo, but not to linux. It's one of the first files I edit on a newly imaged box I send out. Maybe the Tivo version of linux overwrites the file each time it calls in to the "mothership", but that sounds bad, and prone to errors in the long run. Also, if it stayed all this time, it would mean that it doesn't overwrite the file.

And, yeah. If you're using DHCP, the hostname in hosts should still be valid. Almost every distro of Linux asks you for the machine name when installing. Even a Mac and Windows one asks.

So, if it was me, I would try editing that file. make a backup copy first by whatever means is good for you. (Bash, telnet, etc.) Then go into the file. You should see the hostname on the first line, starting at the first character. The other entries on that line are for the workgroup, domain and such. ALWAYS keep the localhost entry.

A full explanation is here:

Sorry. Can't post the wiki url. Just google it.

[worachj]

I changed the DHCP Client ID’s on my Series 2 and Series 3 Tivo’s just last night. But I’m using dynamic IP’s and not static ones. So I’m not sure why you’re not getting to the DHCP Client ID screen. My guess is that your Tivo has already been assigned an IP address by your routers DHCP server and is using the default name supplied by your Tivo (Tivo’ serial no).

I think you need to run Tivo’s network setup when it doesn’t have an IP address already assigned to it. If you really want to name the DHCP Client ID, then I think you need to unplug the wireless adapter to drop the IP connection, switch to dynamic DHCP and finish network setup, then plug the wireless adapter back in.

[DrStephenCW]

worachj - Ah... I will try that.

miketoth1000 - I've administered Unix systems before so I know about the hosts file (even use it on Windows sometimes) but I don't believe I can telnet to my TiVo system without taking the drive out and editing on a PC... can I?

Thanks to both.

[miketoth1001]

Hummm... Can you serial telnet in? You should be able to see what IP address it has in the router too. I remember I had one blade that had no external ports, except the Console port, and that was the only way I could get in. Like I said, I'm not a Tivo guru, so I'm not sure what ports it does, and doesn't, have. A lot of times, with some of the, errr..., hummm... less than new servers I have I sometimes have to try several paths to get where I need to go.

One of my main problems is I know what needs to be done, but trying to communicate it to someone gets all messed up. I end up just doing it, and then people think I'm a snob, or a show-off. It's just how my brain works. In the Navy, I was rewarded for being a "take charge" guy. In civilian life, I'm an a**. Oh well...

And, my Windows hosts file is about 51k in size. Lots of ad servers go to the "localhost".

[DrStephenCW]

I don't know about the serial port. I know some people with Series1s can do that but I have a Series2. I tried setting up the networkwithout the wireless adaptor plugged in and TiVo won't let me. So I guess I'll just live with serial numbers for host names.

[dsisson]

i changed my tivo name from my account on tivo website