HOST.DAT file

[Mike Poole_1]

OPENVMS 7.3-2 on Alpha DS10

Whenever I try to TCPIP SET HOST or TCPIP SET NOHOST I get this:

ALPCSI::SYS$COMMON:.SYSEXE> tcpip show host /local
%TCPIP-E-HOSTERROR, cannot process host request
-TCPIP-W-NORECORD, information not found
-RMS-F-RAC, invalid record access mode
ALPCSI::SYS$COMMON:.SYSEXE> tcpip
TCPIP> show
_What: host
_PARAM1: local
%TCPIP-E-HOSTERROR, cannot process host request
-TCPIP-W-NORECORD, information not found
-RMS-F-RAC, invalid record access mode
TCPIP>


What does this mean?

I need to fix the IP address of our backup server in the HOST.DAT file.

Thank you so much!

[Duncan Morris · Accepted solution]

Hi Mike,

this sounds suspiciously like a mangled hosts file. Typically, the result of somebody trying to edit the hosts file with a text editor, instead of going through the TCPIP commands.

Check the location of the host file

$ SHOW LOGICAL TCPIP$HOST

then do a DIR/FULL of TCPIP$HOST

you should see an indexed file:-

File organization: Indexed, Prolog: 3, Using 2 keys
In 3 areas

I bet that you will find a text file instead.

Duncan

[Dean McGorrill]

Duncan is right on, easily reproduced..

$ cre x.tmp
^Z
$ defin TCPIP$HOST sys$Login:x.tmp
tcpip
TCPIP> sho host foobar
%TCPIP-E-HOSTERROR, cannot process host request
-TCPIP-W-NORECORD, information not found
-RMS-F-RAC, invalid record access mode
TCPIP>

its a tempting file to edit, as if you type
it it looks like a txt file.

[labadie_1]

Or somebody has done an edit on this host file, realized it was a mistake to open an indexed file the editor, did
exit
instead of quit, and even with no modification, the file is no longer indexed, but sequential.

Do a conv/fdl=correct_fdl corrupted_host host

I suppose you have another tcpip$host file available, to get a correct fdl

[Mike Poole_1]

Thank you.. I will do that right away

[Mike Poole_1]

Yep it shows sequential.

Is it possible to delete the host.dat file and then have it recreated with TCPIP$CONFIG?

I really only have about 3 or 4 hosts that I need in there.

[Mike Poole_1]

OK I think I may be getting somewhere. I deleted the two older host.dat files and the one that is in there now is correct and shows 'indexed'.

Can I restart TCPIP to get it to use that file or do I need to redefine tcpip$host?

[Dean McGorrill]

See if you can do a tcpip sho host *
you might not have to restart it. maybe
set the protection so no ones tempted
to edit it (again:)

[Mike Poole_1]

Thanks a lot!

I will do that