Cannot ping hostname

[Kenneth Stoutzenberger]

I've just installed HP-UX 11 and have set up my lan card to use DHCP. When the system rebooted, the LAN failed. The only way I was able to proceed was to disable DHCP and set up the network parameters manually by editing the /etc/rc.config.d/netconf file.

Now I am able to boot my system, but when the CDE launches, it gives me an error saying that the "desktop messaging system could not be started." I then have to exit and login under the Failsafe mode. The dialog says that there may be a networking problem and that I should check my etc/hosts file.

It does look like I have some sort of networking problem, but I don't know what it is. I am able to ping "localhost" and I am able to ping my local machine, "10.0.0.5," however, I cannot ping if I use my hostname, "lucy" I checked the host file and it seems OK to me. The entry is just 10.0.0.5 lucy

The strange thing is, I am able to ping my DNS server by pinging the name that is in the host file.

I've tried using set_parms hostname to change the hostname, but still get the same problem. Does anyone know what is wrong and what I need to do to fix this and be able to log into my CDE?

Many thanks

=^..^=

[Michael Tully · Accepted solution]

First place to check is in your /etc/nsswitch.conf file to see where your DNS is resolved to. You should have this set to files first. Do you use /etc/resolv.conf ?

[harry d brown jr]

Ken,

get out the vi manual.

Along with Michael's answer, I'd like to have you look at /etc/rc.config.d/netconf and /etc/hosts

live free or die
harry

[Kenneth Stoutzenberger]

Harry,

Please explain why you think I need the vi manual? Also, explain what it is you want me to look at in the 2 files you mention. I explained in my original question that I've checked/modified both of these files, and they appear to be correct. Although I don't profess to be an expert, the files are very straight-forward. If there is something in particular I should be looking for, please expound on your response and let me know what it is.

[Balaji N]

hi,

can u please see if the following outputs are consistent.

1. nslookup lucy
2. getip lucy
3. nslookup 10.0.0.5
4. ping lucy
5. ping 10.0.0.5

if they are consistent, just try deleteing the .dt* directories and try logging in again.

Is it possible that you are running NIS and the /etc/hosts file is edited properly but the nis maps are not updated.

hth
-balaji

[Mark Ellzey]

Ken,

In regards to then "desktop messaging system could not be started." message:

It's been my experience that the permissions on the .dt directory in your home are not correctly set. Specifically, this directory and all the files underneath it should be owned by the user. Change the ownership and you should be good to go. I also noticed someone said to delete the .dt directory. This should work as well, as CDE will recreate it when you log in.

Follow up with the previous messages about the checking /etc/hosts, /etc/resolv.conf and /etc/nsswitch.conf files also.

Regards,
Mark

[John Dvorchak]

You mentioned that this is a fresh install of HPUX 11 so there is probably no /etc/nsswitch.conf file but rather some example files. Most people copy nsswitch.hp_defaults to nsswitch.conf and run with that. Just to get you going though you might try to comment out the line, in nsswitch.conf that reads:

hosts: dns [NOTFOUND=return] nis [NOTFOUND=return] files

and replace it with this:


hosts: files [NOTFOUND=continue] nis[NOTFOUND=continue] dns

This will force it to look at the /etc/hosts file first for the local name. If that works then are you sure that your DNS has "lucy" resolving to the same address that you configured?

[Kenneth Stoutzenberger]

Thanks everyone. This problem has been resolved by creating the /etc/nsswitch.conf file and setting it to search the file first and then dns.

I appreciate the responses!

=^..^=