A nagging question about DNS caching only

[Charles Derykus]

In article <856 at bcstec.boeing.com> ced at bcstec.uucp (Charles Derykus) writes:
|
|Our caching only nameserver running on an RS6000, rev 3005 has started to
|break.
 
>>You're a bit confused here, at least terminology wise, the nameserver
>>NEVER looks at /etc/hosts, neither does the resolver. It is only the
>>routine gethostbyname() which does this, and normally only when a query
>>to the nameserver fails to resolve an address.

I slopped AIX's "host" program in with nameserver which it isn't.  The 
"host" program however evidently does a gethostbyname() if resolution
can't be made through a DNS call. 

| You also don't say WHY you believe it is "broken". How do you know it has
| quit resolving names, what are the visible symptoms, knowing that may
| help figuring out what is really wrong.

| Has anyone seen this or have any theories?
 
>> There just isn't enough info here for theories. What you might find useful
>> ...


Jack, thanks for the clarity.  Actually, we did roll our own "nslookup". I
also tried dumping the database . It was empty. After making a couple
of address requests, I found open errors on "named.local" and 
"named.ca".  After editing in explicit paths for them in the boot file,
the problems went away. I had mis-assumed? that /etc was default. I know
this sounds very dubious to say the least. Honest, though, it's working
now. Can any one comment on this? 

Charles DeRykus				Internet:   ced at bcstec.boeing.com
Boeing Computer Services		UUCP:	    ...!uunet!bcstec!ced
Renton, WA.  M/S 6R-37			(206) 234-9223