Can't rlogin/telnet to other server from host after activating the DNS setting

[Mr. Henry Chan]

I am using Korea DNS server to resolve domain name. Previously, I often receive the error message on both console and working session each time when I send a email. Thus , I activate the DNS setting(truely) on the server and there is no more error message. However, I cannot rlogin/telnet to other servers from host now. Can anybody tell me what's happening ??

[Patrick Wallek]

What does you /etc/nsswitch.conf file look like?

You should probably have something similar to the following line:

hosts: files [NOTFOUND=continue] dns

You should have files as the first resolver, so that your local servers will get resolved by your /etc/hosts file, then if the machine is not in /etc/hosts, it will go to DNS.

[Michael Tully]

Definitely try to resolve to your local /etc/hosts file first. Below is a sample from one of my servers.

hosts: files [NOTFOUND=continue UNAVAIL=return TRYAGAIN=return] dns NOTFOUND=return UNAVAIL=continue TRYAGAIN=return]