Name server specification Introduction 11.. TTaasskkss You must specify a name server (its IP number). This is the missing link allowing your workstation to operate with machine names and translate those to IP numbers. You are allowed to specify up to three name servers. The second one is used if the first fail and so on. Note that if the first fail, you will get noticeable timeouts. You may also set a domain name here. This domain will be appended each time you do a name lookup. This saves you from giving the full name all the time. Search domains are like the default domain, but you are allowed to give six possibilities. Beware that search domain take control over the default domain. If you use this feature, you are defeating the default domain. It is seldom used and generate more traffic between your station and the DNS. This may be important if the DNS is far away. 22.. TToo DDNNSS oorr nnoott There are two alternatives to the _D_N_S: //eettcc//hhoossttss and _N_I_S (Network Information System). //eettcc//hhoossttss may be used on simple network. You must manually synchronize all //eettcc//hhoossttss files on each machines of the network. _N_I_S is a good alternative. It goes further than the _D_N_S as it manages also user accounts and passwords. It can be use at the same time as the _D_N_S (See "search path for host name" in the "_N_e_t_w_o_r_k _c_o_n_f_i_g_u_r_a_t_o_r" menu. Given that _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f does not manage NIS server yet, setting a _D_N_S on your network and pointing all machines to it is a good idea. This is also a good idea because one day or the other, you will hook your network to the Internet (using a firewall or not) and at this time, you will need to point to a _D_N_S server anyway. Yours will be just fine. 33.. FFiieellddss ddeessccrriippttiioonn 33..11.. DDNNSS nneeeeddeedd ffoorr nnoorrmmaall ooppeerraattiioonn Standalone machine will generally not use a _D_N_S, except if they get connect to a larger network once in a while. Even then, they may use a _D_N_S on this larger network. _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f checks at different times (boot time for one) for _D_N_S connectivity. If the _D_N_S fails to answer after few seconds, _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f will complain about it and offer you to skip network configuration: A bad _D_N_S configuration or a faulty one are real show stoppers (It often gives the impression the computer is hung). This test is a saver, except if the machine does not have full time access to a DNS. The check box is just there to tell _L_i_n_u_x_c_o_n_f not to care that much about the _D_N_S. It won't change the operation of the machine beside that. 33..22.. DDeeffaauulltt ddoommaaiinn You generally enter here the domain you use most, generally the domain of your organisation. 33..33.. NNaammeesseerrvveerr 11 22 aanndd 33 You must enter an IP number, not a machine name. For a standalone which never connect to any larger network, this is optionnal. 33..44.. SSeeaarrcchh ddoommaaiinn An alternative to the default domain are the "Search domain" fields. While this add some overhead to _D_N_S search, it may be a good time saver if you talk regularly to several machines spreaded in different domain. Note that using "Search domains" is exclusive to the "default domain" field. Use one or the others.