Subj : Which Format for the hosts File is Correct?
To   : comp.os.linux
From : W. Watson
Date : Sun Dec 05 2004 05:34 pm

I can find two descriptions on the web for the hosts file that appear to be 
different. Here's one:

#
# Hosts file for Virtual Brewery/Virtual Winery
#
# IP            local       fully qualified domain name
#
127.0.0.1       localhost
#
191.72.1.1      vlager      vlager.vbrew.com
191.72.1.1      vlager-if1

and another:

# For loopbacking.
127.0.0.1       localhost
#
129.6.15.28     time-a.nist.gov         synctime
44.56.26.10     ka1fsb.ampr.org         ka1fsb
44.56.26.11     ka1fsb-3.ampr.org       ka1fsb-3

Can someone explain this? Is there another file that controls the order?

My man page for hosts shows: ip-address canonical_hostname aliases

but gives no explanation of canonical_hostname
-- 
              Wayne T. Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada City, CA)
                  (121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)
                   Obz Site:  39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet
             (Formerly Homo habilis, erectus, heidelbergensis and now sapiens)

               "The free market is a great thing--we should try it sometime."
                       -- Jim Hightower

                         Web Page: <home.earthlink.net/~mtnviews>

.