host command does not use hosts file

jstuardo · 02-21-2012, 07:08 AM

Hello...

I have RHEL 5 with a hosts file listing this entry:

192.168.1.8 OFICINA-XX

When I run: "ping OFICINA-XX", the name is correctly resolved.

But when I run: "host OFICINA-XX" this error occurs:

Host OFICINA-XX not found: 3(NXDOMAIN)

How can I make host command to recognize the name?

Thanks a lot in advance
Jaime

acid_kewpie · 02-21-2012, 07:12 AM

It doesn't, it is for DNS lookups only. This is completely by design.

david1941 · 02-21-2012, 07:17 AM

The host command uses the /etc/resolv.conf file to know who to ask and not your hosts file, while other commands usually will use the hosts file.

jschiwal · 02-25-2012, 02:52 AM

Look at the "getent" command. getent hosts <hostname>
This will use /etc/hosts or dns if /etc/resolv.conf and /etc/nsswitch.conf are configured properly.