I've got an iBook running OS 10.2.8, and for some reason it isn't using
the DNS settings provided by the DHCP server correctly. It works
correctly if I boot up on my home network, but not after I take the
iBook to uni.

I know the DNS server works, because the Windows, Linux, and OpenBSD
machines on the network are all able to resolve names correctly. The
iBook appears to be reaching the DNS server, because "dig" can find the
names correctly. For example:

% dig homestar.eth

; <<>> DiG 8.3 <<>> homestar.eth
;; res options: init recurs defnam dnsrch
;; got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 2
;; flags: qr aa rd ra; QUERY: 1, ANSWER: 1, AUTHORITY: 1, ADDITIONAL: 0
;; QUERY SECTION:
;; homestar.eth, type = A, class = IN

;; ANSWER SECTION:
homestar.eth. 3D IN A 10.0.0.1

;; AUTHORITY SECTION:
eth. 3D IN NS homestar.

;; Total query time: 19 msec
;; FROM: photon.local. to SERVER: default -- 10.0.0.1
;; WHEN: Thu Dec 11 17:59:15 2003
;; MSG SIZE sent: 30 rcvd: 68



However, none of the stuff I use regularly seems to work. For example:

% ssh homestar.eth
ssh: homestar.eth: no address associated with hostname.
% ping homestar.eth
ping: unknown host homestar.eth
% ftp homestar.eth
ftp: No address associated with nodename
ftp> quit
%

The whole DNS subsystem on OS X is weird, so I'm not really sure how to
go about fixing this. Does anyone have any ideas? TIA for any feedback,

Anthony

In article <jY8Cb.670823$9l5.244860@pd7tw2no>, Anthony Roberts
<acrobert-at-ucalgary-dot-ca@ucalgary.ca> wrote:

> I've got an iBook running OS 10.2.8, and for some reason it isn't using
> the DNS settings provided by the DHCP server correctly. It works
> correctly if I boot up on my home network, but not after I take the
> iBook to uni.
>
> I know the DNS server works, because the Windows, Linux, and OpenBSD
> machines on the network are all able to resolve names correctly. The
> iBook appears to be reaching the DNS server, because "dig" can find the
> names correctly. For example:

<snip>

> The whole DNS subsystem on OS X is weird, so I'm not really sure how to
> go about fixing this. Does anyone have any ideas? TIA for any feedback,

One solution would be to simply use the built in BIND DNS server.
Edit the file /etc/hostconfig so the the line

DNSSERVER=-NO-

reads

DNSSERVER=-YES-

Then set your DNS server in the Network System Preference panel to be
127.0.0.1

Regards,
Rob.