NAME

resolver − resolver configuration file

SYNOPSIS

/etc/resolv.conf

DESCRIPTION

The resolver configuration file contains information that is read by the resolver routines the first time they are invoked by a process.  The file contains a list of name-value pairs that provide various types of resolver information. 

On a normally configured system this file should not be necessary.  The only name server to be queried will be on the local machine and the domain name is retrieved from the system. 

The different configuration options are:

nameserver
followed by the Internet address (in dot notation) of a name server that the resolver should query.  At least one name server should be listed.  Up to MAXNS (currently three) name servers may be listed; the resolver library queries them in the order listed.  If no nameserver entries are present, the default is to use the name server on the local machine.  (The algorithm used is to try a name server, and if the query times out, try the next, until out of name servers.  Repeat, trying all the name servers until a maximum number of retries are made). 

domain
followed by a domain name that is the default domain to append to names that do not have a dot in them. If no domain entries are present, the root domain is assumed. 

nonameserver
with or without a value.  This stops the resolver routines from contacting any name server and forces gethostbyname and gethostbyaddr (see ghostnamed(3I)) to use the /etc/hosts file.  This allows use of the host table without recompiling network applications or waiting for the resolver routines to time out. 

The name value pair must appear on a single line, and the keyword, e.g., nameserver, must start the line.  The value follows the keyword, separated by white space. 

FILES

/etc/resolv.conf

SEE ALSO

named(1M), ghostnamed(3I), resolver(3I).  “Name Server Operations Guide for BIND.”

\*U  —  Version 1.0