/etc/hosts change caused issue

[Robert Gamble]

A hosts file change (added ~2000 lines) occured. The system could resolve itself after the update. Later that evening, an oracle database stopped working, saying it couldn't start. In desparation hours later, the original host file was put back into place. the oracle startup script completed without issue this time.

after examing the hosts file for ^M, or other hidden characters, none were found, but I did find two of the added lines had a typo, were someone had a comma separator instead of periods.

anyone run across this behaviour before?

[Ivan Ferreira]

Have you verfied that no duplicate host to ip was added, specially for the host running oracle. Also, the permissions of the file did not changed.

[Robert Gamble]

i did verify no duplicate entry for the host was present. permissions remained the same (444).

[Shahul]

Hi,

It's really hard to figure out from here, I think any of these may have occured.

1. You missed one or more hosts from original host file.

2. Missed one/more aliases from original file.

3. Missed default entries like loop back address/ actual host's address.

4. The file name got changed or permission changed.

5. Or file was not in a readable format.

You can try again adding the entries carefully, and see what happens.

Best of luck
Shahul

[Carlos Roberto Schimidt]

Hi,

Try use nslookup for test new entries.

cat /etc/hosts | awk '{print $1}' | while read IP
do
echo "*** $IP ****" >>/tmp/logfile
nslookup $IP >>/tmp/logfile
done

Try discover any problems in log file.