Subj : Re: Which Format for the hosts File is Correct?
To   : comp.os.linux
From : Sybren Stuvel
Date : Mon Dec 06 2004 05:03 pm

HansF enlightened us with:
> Any documented reference to back that up?  

Just my own experience. I've seen various systems that try to get the
domain name from a lookup of the IP address of eth0. Since the second
field is the one returned by reverse lookups, it should be the fqdn.

> I agree that the fqdn should generally be the second field.  But so
> far my research has only indicated that it be a 'canonical'
> hostname, and (like the OP) I have not found a reference that
> authortatively states that 'canonical' should be 'fqdn'.

I don't have any authority here either, just experience.

Sybren
-- 
The problem with the world is stupidity. Not saying there should be a
capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the
safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

.