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[MiNT] /etc/host vs /etc/hostname



Hello everyone,

when reading the ncftp source, I found the explanation:

It seems that /etc/host is a version of /etc/hostname that is 
supposed to contain the fully qualified domain name, not just 
the machine's name.  ncftp uses it to create the anonymous 
password, if $HOSTNAME is not defined in any env variable.

Btw, regarding this HOSTNAME variable, it seems the only safe
place to decalre it is in mint.cnf, since declaring it elsewhere
doesn't ensure it will be properly exported.

Last, I notice most Unices have a 'domainname' command similar to 
'hostname' (though much more complete) but we don't.  Would that 
be difficult to port?  Here's what the Debian one allows:

<sandels:503:q-funk> domainname --help
Usage: hostname [-v] {hostname|-F file}      set hostname (from file)
       domainname [-v] {nisdomain|-F file}   set NIS domainname (from file)
       hostname [-v] [-d|-f|-s|-a|-i|-y]     display formated name
       hostname [-v]                         display hostname

       hostname -V|--version|-h|--help       print info and exit

    dnsdomainname=hostname -d, {yp,nis,}domainname=hostname -y

    -s, --short           short host name
    -a, --alias           alias names
    -i, --ip-address      addresses for the hostname
    -f, --fqdn, --long    long host name (FQDN)
    -d, --domain          DNS domain name
    -y, --yp, --nis       NIS/YP domainname
    -F, --file            read hostname or nis domainname from File

   This comand can get or set the hostname or the NIS domainname. You
   can also get the DNS domain or the FQDN (fully qualified domain name).
   Unless you are using bind or NIS for host lookups you can change the
   FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) and the DNS domain name (which is
   part of the FQDN) in the /etc/hosts file.

--
Martin-Eric Racine        http://www.pp.fishpool.fi/~q-funk/M-E/
The ATARI TT030 Homepage       http://funkyware.atari.org/TT030/
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