All, I'm a bit embarrassed to be asking this question (more properly question-series), since I've been enjoying Linux since late '98 and ya'd think I'd know the answer to this by now ... however ...
I'm wondering about hostname(s). What is -affected- by the name one chooses to give one's box? The contents of my /etc/hostname file is simply the string "debian". I've noticed that when firing up certain apps (Netscape for one), I briefly see a "host not known" message, but the application then seems to go ahead and work anyway. I'm asking specifically, I guess, because I don't understand networking very well, and am sure I'm doing many things wrong. I'm on a DSL connection with a static IP. I purchased a domain name recently and normally check my email by ssh-ing into that account and firing up Pine. If say I rename my machine (implicit therein is the question "should I ...?") to soandso.mydomain.com ... is that, uh, a -valid- thing to do? Is it the -better- thing to do? Or should the hostname of my DSL-connected box remain a single, that is undotted name (apparently something other than "debian")? I have to admit that the point in setup where I'm asked to in essence name the machine has always been something I've bluffed through: the mere fact that I -own- the domain "mydomain.com" doesn't in itself mean I should name this box as if it were a subset of that domain ... or does it? After all, it (the box) seems to work -okay- ... I just get messages sometimes that indicate to me that things aren't set up quite right. For instance, when I try to run eximconfig, I get this: hostname: Unknown host hostname --fqdn gave non-zero exit code 256 I'm guessing it's because of the sloppy naming. I'd like to set up my machine to directly receive mail. Is there more here that I am not addressing? Apologies for the question snowstorm and thanks in advance for any help. Thx, Glenn +----------------+ http://www.burningclown.com "Everyone's Portal to Nothing At All" +----------------+
