up vote 2 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

I am trying to make a script that will ping an IP address and tell you the name of the server it is pinging.

It works....mostly

I cannot seem to figure out how to make Linux (Ubuntu more specifically) to display the dns domain suffix that is set inside of the "resolv.conf" file.

if I type "hostname" at a command prompt all I get is "ubuntu01"

I tried typing domainname and all I get is the output "(none)" which is confusing me considering I can type the hsotname of any computer on my network and it will append the DNS suffix of "solignis.local" to it just like it is supposed to.

Any ideas?

link|improve this question
90% accept rate
The command hostname -f should return the FQDN for the local host if the /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts is setup properly. – Zoredache Dec 17 '10 at 2:14
feedback

3 Answers

up vote 0 down vote accepted

hostname provides this functionality:

$ hostname -d

If you are getting (none) then the domain may not be set, there is also the -y switch for the NIS/YP domain name.

link|improve this answer
hostname -y, displays "domainname: Local domain name not set", sounds like I got some debugging to do. problem is I am pretty new to linux. – Solignis Dec 17 '10 at 1:47
Solignis: Sounds to me like the domain is just not set on the machine, if it has one, that needs to be sorted out. – Orbling Dec 17 '10 at 2:03
1  
@Solignis, Look at your /etc/hosts. There should be a entry for your system with the FQDN. – Zoredache Dec 17 '10 at 2:15
that was the problem, it works now. I looked at another server I had and I used that as an example. I had uninstalled the Ubuntu desktop network manager and there was still a commented line in there about it making the change, works now. Thanks a bunch! – Solignis Dec 17 '10 at 2:26
feedback
up vote 2 down vote

The "search" and "domain" settings in resolv.conf are only for converting host names with no domain to IP addresses.

You are trying to convert a host name with no domain to a host name with a domain.

I would usually set the hostname to a host name with a domain, e.g. in /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts.

The other option would be to set up a DNS server.

link|improve this answer
I have a DNS server running its BIND9. It runs forward and reverse. You saying if I add and entry for this machine it will be good? – Solignis Dec 17 '10 at 2:02
Yes, I think so. Worst case, you have to run "host ubuntu01", then grab the IP address that that prints, and then run "host <IP address>". – Mikel Dec 17 '10 at 2:04
that works...sorta. it gives me this output "21.0.0.10.in-addr.arpa domain name pointer ubuntu01.solignis.local." But if I run "dnsdomainname" it says dnsdomainname: Name or service not known. – Solignis Dec 17 '10 at 2:13
What do you have in /etc/hosts? /etc/hosts will be used in preference to DNS by default. – Mikel Dec 17 '10 at 2:58
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

Sounds like the computer doesn't have the domain properly configured. If there's a search domain in the resolv.conf file that you want, you can grep it out (grep search /etc/resolv.conf)

link|improve this answer
I just tired it and I get just the hostname, no domain suffix. I found a site that told me to try type "dnsdomainname" but it does not work for me it just makes another command prompt and moves on. – Solignis Dec 17 '10 at 1:35
I know I set it in the resolv.conf. would "grep"ing it be the easiest I assume? I am trying do it for a perl script I starting to wonder if perl has a way to find the domain suffix, hmm well thanks for the help. – Solignis Dec 17 '10 at 1:41
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.