networks(4N)                                         networks(4N)



     NAME
          networks - network name database

     DESCRIPTION
          The networks file contains information regarding  the  known
          networks  which  comprise the DARPA Internet.  For each net-
          work a single line should be present with the following  in-
          formation:

               official network name
               network number
               aliases

          Items are separated by any number of blanks and/or tab char-
          acters.  A ``#'' indicates the beginning of a comment; char-
          acters up to the end of the line are not interpreted by rou-
          tines  which search the file.  This file is normally created
          from the official network data base maintained at  the  Net-
          work  Information Control Center (NIC), though local changes
          may be required to bring it up to date regarding  unofficial
          aliases and/or unknown networks.

          Network number may be specified in  the  conventional  ``.''
          notation  using the inet_network() routine from the Internet
          address manipulation library, inet(3N).  Network  names  may
          contain  any  printable  character other than a field delim-
          iter, newline, or comment character.

     FILES
          /etc/networks

     SEE ALSO
          getnetent(3N).

     BUGS
          A name server should be used instead of a static file.  A
          binary indexed file format should be available for fast ac-
          cess.

















     April, 1990                                                     1