Re: gethostname returns loginname on "Pather Server" version
Re: gethostname returns loginname on "Pather Server" version
- Subject: Re: gethostname returns loginname on "Pather Server" version
- From: Robert MacGregor <email@hidden>
- Date: Sat, 7 Feb 2004 09:23:14 -0500
Allan,
This is very useful information. I've noticed if I use 'Turn AirPort
Off' my machine will set it's hostname to it's Rendezvous name.
Does the BSD hostname algorithm run every time the network location is
set?
Rob MacGregor
On Feb 6, 2004, at 9:11 PM, Allan Nathanson wrote:
Why can't I name my computer "admin"? Should all currently defined
login names be excluded as possible host names?
And as to any conventions used for setting the BSD hostname
(gethostname(3), sethostname(3))... You are correct that the
standards are ambiguous. Suggesting that the name have some relevance
to a hosts DNS name, while a nice idea, makes a number of assumptions
including:
- the system is actually connected to a network
- the system has only one network interface
- the system has only one IP address
- only one name is associated with the one IP address
Unfortunately, you can't make any of these assumptions. The world of
computers is no longer as simple as the days when all computers were
large, bolted to the floor, and non-functional unless the network was
accessible.
What are we (Apple) doing? Here's the algorithm that we use to set
the BSD hostname:
1. if available, use the name specified in the /etc/hostconfig file
(HOSTNAME=my-host-name)
... and this name need not have any association with a DNS name
2. if available, use the name provided by the DHCP/BOOTP server for
the "primary" IP address
... and this name need not have any association with a DNS name
3. if available, use the [first] name returned by a reverse DNS
(address-->name) query for the "primary" IP address
4. if available, use the rendezvous hostname
5. use "localhost"
In short, we "try" to set the BSD hostname to something reasonable but
there are no guarantees.
- Allan
p.s. I believe that Mac OS X Server systems tend to set a fixed name
in the /etc/hostconfig file.
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