Subj : Re: Which Format for the hosts File is Correct?
To   : comp.os.linux
From : HansF
Date : Sun Dec 05 2004 09:30 pm

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 17:34:16 +0000, W. Watson wrote:

> 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

Running a search on 'define canonical hostname' yields 

	http://dict.die.net/canonical%20name/

Most places [I've dealt with] assume that the canonical hostname is the
FQDN (fully qualified domain name) which includes the domain.  Never had a
problem when I've followed that assumption.

.