Just because named is not running does not mean you are not running DNS.
If the following is in the /etc/nsswitch.conf file, you are running DNS, it will go there first for lookups wheather you want it to or not.
hosts: dns [NOTFOUND=continue UNAVAIL=continue TRYAGAIN=continue] files
You can put
hosts: files [NOTFOUND=continue UNAVAIL=continue TRYAGAIN=continue] dns
in the file and it will check hosts first and then DNS if it does not find it.
I've been in this situation before, or rename nsswitch.conf to something else.
I am the DNS guy for Hertz rent-a-car, I know of what I speak.
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