Unknown host error message when trying to ping Internet

[Alma J Wetzker]

This sounds very similar to my setup.  I am running SuSE 8.2 pro with a 
SMC NAT router.  The router is the DHCP server and also holds the DNS 
pointer.

/etc/hosts
127.0.0.1 localhost
#
192.168.2.7 awetzker.weg.org awetzker
192.168.2.1 hub router
192.168.2.10 crunch.weg.org crunch
192.168.2.4 almaw.weg.org almaw
192.168.2.35    tigger.weg.org tigger
192.168.2.19 merlin.weg.org merlin
192.168.2.245 laser

/etc/resolv.conf
#
# Generated by DHCP boot script
#
search weg.org
nameserver 192.168.2.1

netstat -r
Kernel IP routing table
Destination  Gateway  Genmask        Flags  MSS Window  irtt Iface
192.168.2.0  *        255.255.255.0  U       40 0          0 eth0
127.0.0.0    *        255.0.0.0      U       40 0          0 lo
default      hub      0.0.0.0        UG      40 0          0 eth0


This is the default config after the setup found everything.  It is 
working fine.  FWIW

     -- Alma

> I am trying to set up a Suse 8.2 desktop box, (Bob, address 
> 192.168.1.33) but am having trouble connecting to the Internet. I am not 
> running a firewall on it.
> 
> I can ping an Internet address by IP address without problem. When I try 
> to ping by hostname I receive the error message "unknown host."
> 
> I can ping other machines local to my network by both IP address and 
> hostname without problem. One of the other machines in the network (Sam, 
> address 192.168.1.2, RH 7.3) has no problems when pinging the Internet, 
> either by IP address or hostname, and it can ping the Suse box without 
> problem.
> 
> My Internet access is through a NAT gateway/firewall box with address 
> 192.168.1.1 (Bill) on the internal net card, and whatever address 
> assigned to tthe external card by my ISP using DHCP. From the firewall 
> box, I can ping the Suse box, the RH box, and the Internet using both IP 
> address and hostname, all without problems,
> 
> The configuration files for the Suse box are set up as follows:
> 
> /etc/hosts
>     127.0.0.1       localhost
>     192.168.1.1    bill.mynet.net     bill
>     192.168.1.2    sam.mynet.net    sam
>     192.168.1.33    bob.mynet.net     bob
> 
>     # special IPv6 addresses
>     ::1             localhost ipv6-localhost ipv6-loopback
>     fe00::0         ipv6-localnet
>     ff00::0         ipv6-mcastprefix
>     ff02::1         ipv6-allnodes
>     ff02::2         ipv6-allrouters
> 
> /etc/host.conf
>     order hosts, bind
>     multi on
> 
> /etc/resolv.conf
>     nameserver 216.229.33.250
>     nameserver 216.229.33.251
>     search local local
> 
> /etc/nsswitch.conf
>     passwd: compat
>     group:  compat
>     hosts:      files dns
>     networks:       files dns
>     services:       files
>     protocols:      files
>     rpc:        files
>     ethers:        files
>     netmasks:       files
>     netgroup:       files
>     publickey:    files
>     bootparams:     files
>     automount:      files nis
>     aliases:        files
> 
> 
> The output of netstat -nr
> 
> Kernel IP routing table
> Destination  Gateway      Genmask       Flags   MSS Window  irtt face
> 192.168.1.0  0.0.0.0      255.255.255.0 U       0 0          0 eth0
> 0.0.0.0      192.168.1.1  0.0.0.0       UG      0 0          0 eth0
> 
> Can anyone help me figure out what is going on?
> 
> BOF