hello all fellow linux users....
Ive been looking for a place like this for some help so here it goes. I got linux mandrake 7.2 on my computer at home installed fine and got online with kppp without problems but iam still confused about that localhost.localdomain at startup,do I name my computer what i want or leave it as localhost. I use a modem and have earthlink as my isp I read the ppp howto but still confused any help thanks all.

Base on my experience , I think that if you're part of an organisation or a company you would have to name your host and domain. If not, I mean you use your PC at home you don't have to bother it, if you do you can invent your own IP address and hostname, e.g: IP:192.168.1.1, hostname: homepc and domain: training-center.edu .For Red Hat you write the IP address, hostname.domain and its alias in /etc/hosts :

/etc/hosts:
127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain unix
192.168.1.1 homepc.training-center.edu homepc

you should also have this:
/etc/HOSTNAME:
homepc

Hope this helps.

[Edited by TK Tech on 12-12-2000 at 05:19 AM]

ok I think I got it this is what I did changed /etc/hosts to 127.0.0.1 myispusername.earthlink.net then etc/sysconfig/network networking=yes forward_Ipv4=false Hostname=myispusername.earthlink.net Domainname=earthlink.net
then etc/resolv.conf added search .earthlink.net
nameserver.dns#s I think this is alright if anybody sees something not right here can you please tell me or if I forgot something. I use mdk7.2 on a dialup thanks to all.

/etc/hosts

127.0.0.1 localhost # this line exact
192.168.0.1 yourmachine.domainname.com
# this number 192.168.0.1 is a private reserve IP number that you can use in your locate
# network. You can assign your machines other numbers off this 192 class.
# Do not use other numbers unless they are assigned to you by your ISP.

/etc/resolv.conf

search domain.com
nameserver 205.232.142.2
nameserver 205.232.142.241
# The name servers above will be name servers assigned to you by your ISP.
# Domain.com will be replaced by the name of the domain of your name server or your
# ISP.

Set your host name (your machine name) with the command:

hostname [machinename]

This will be a one word name of how you would like to refer to you individual machine. There might eventually grow other machines in your network.

Set your domain name with:

Domainname [domainname]

This will be the name of your domain. It will be in the form of yourdomain.com.

If you type in the query: hostname, it should show you the individual machine name that you named your computer. If you type in the query, domainame, just like the command, hostname, it’ll show you how you’re set if you don’t give it one on the command line.

If you type in the command:

hostname –f

This will show you your fully qualified dns name. It’ll show you in the form: yourmachine.yourdomain.com

-- L. James