Learning VB 2k5. Cant convert to string error.

Michael Eaton · November 16th, 2005, 08:43 AM

Hey guys, my first ever post!

I've looked around and i'm loving this website..

I decided i wanted to learn VisualBasic to help build an application to help me in my job, (i support web hosting clients). I've only even touched PHP/MySQL and some bash scripting. Nothing using OO(P).

I'm using the new Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition. Which is great, i love it. Nice clean design and works well.

Ok, on to my problem. This is/may be really basic. But i just cant fathom it out:

One of my daily tasks i find myself doing is looking up IP's from a hostname, and vice versa, now i know there are hundreds of apps/tools out there but i want my own, to work it the way I want it to work. Plus i want to learn anyway.

The code i have:

Code:

Private Sub Button1_Click(.... blah.. )

   Dim hostInfo As Net.IPHostEntry = GetHostEntry("domainname")
   MessageBox.Show(hostInfo)

End Sub

' The error:
' Value of type 'System.Net.IPHostEntry' cannot be converted 
' to 'String'.

Now i know this is wrong, and i know about why its wrong, but for the life of me i cannot figure a way around it. I have searched the internet but i only find ASP.Net examples and I dont think i could utilse any of the workarounds/solutions that are provided.

I hope that someone will take pity on me, and help me out. I also am very willing to read / research, so i dont mind if i get told to "RTFM" as long as you point me to the section i need, or at least give me a hint.

I want to thank anyone in advanced for helping me out.

Thanks.

Michael

PS: Wow, this turned out to be one hell of a post! :)

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Thanks for all your help P2P Wrox! (and its users)

katsarosj · November 16th, 2005, 02:56 PM

Dim hostinfo As IPHostEntry = Dns.Resolve("p2p.wrox.com")
Dim addressToGet As IPAddress
For Each addressToGet In hostinfo.AddressList
Messagebox.Show(addressToGet.ToString)
Next
--------------------------------------------

J

Michael Eaton · November 16th, 2005, 03:28 PM

Sweet, Thanks!

Few more questions, I'm going to want to grab a few other records from dns too, such as a, ns, mx, ptr etc.. is there an easy way to do this?

Also any other tips / articles etc i'd be very grateful.

Thanks!

Michael

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Thanks for all your help P2P Wrox! (and its users)

katsarosj · November 16th, 2005, 04:28 PM

This was based upon an example from MSDN and utilizes the DNS class in the System.Net namespace. You might want to look there. I haven't done specific queries on name servers to grab a, ns, etc. records - just hostname to IP resolution.

J