That’s correct. I couldn’t ping them nor could I access them via a web browser. Bummer. I access my management consoles and mp3 server through a browser.

The dig utility would resolve them ok. Just not any user or administrative applications such as those mentioned above. After doing some digging around on the web and reading some man pages I found that there two files that need to be edited, or at least checked.

Now we need to edit the /etc/nsswitch.conf and /etc/host.conf file. Note that I said the /etc/host.conf file not /etc/hosts as some people have done.

Change the /etc/nsswitch.conf hosts entry to read:

hosts: files dns

and the /etc/host.conf file to read:

order bind, hosts
multi off
mdns off
.
You may need to reboot after doing this. Now I could ping and resolve the local hosts normally.

Be careful what posts that you use to solve this or any other problem. I read one post that said if the domain ends in .local, which mine does, then this is problematic with SuSE. One poster even recommended changing the domain name. That’s right. I’m going to change the FQDN of all of my machines. Not.

The problem simply lies with the settings that SuSE ships with their products, specifically with the /etc/host.conf file. See the man page for more details. It specifically points out the use of .local domains and what to set the entries to in the file, the critical one being the mdns entry.

-j

If that’s confusing then how in the world do you figure out what Windows version you are going to use? Windows Vista had six SKUs and it looks like Windows 7 is going to have two..or is it still six?

Sure Microsoft is pushing the Home Premium edition and a Professional edition as it’s two primary versions. The third SKU that is supposedly not going to have an impact on all of this is the Windows 7 Home Basic. Supposedly this will only be sold in emerging markets but, well it still exists as a valid SKU.

Then there is the Starter edition. The what? The Starter edition. You know for people who are just starting to use computers. It will run a whopping three applications simultaneously. That sounds suspiciously like the Windows 7 Home Basic. Why anyone would want either one of those is past me.

By my count we are up to four. Enter Microsoft’s offering of an Enterprise and Ultimate version of Windows 7. Both of these versions contain applications that should be standard with any operating system. Not so for Microsoft when they can squeeze some more money from their faithful. That brings us to six.

Now go pick one of the three mainline distributions. Any of them-Ubuntu, Fedora or OpenSuSE. No separate SKU, no licensing hassles, and not one dime comes out of your wallet to install any of them. Install only the applications that you want or better yet install everything. If you are a new user this is a great way to learn which applications that you like to use for various task. Usually two or three for any given task are included. You don’t have to buy it nor do you have to download a separate version to get a particular feature or application. Straightforward and simple.

Enjoy the freedom and lack of confusion!

-j

But what about the fast growing part of the pc market, the Netbook? I don’t believe the Netbook will have enough power to run either one of these. That brings the versions up to three.

As you may remember from the last post I finally arrived at my hotel about 2200 CST. Being tired and all from the trip I decided to hit the sack and check email and what have you the next morning.

I get up the next morning and get ready to go. Everything is looking good as far as arrival time. I am supposed to be at my destination around noon.

I sit down to check my email. No wireless internet. Like most of us the first thing that I look for is internet before I decide on a hotel/motel. These folks advertised wireless. Now I’ve been out of touch with everyone for almost 24 hours. This isn’t good.

A quick search around the room reveals a data jack. Ok cool. I have a patch cable with me. I plug in my patch cable and Voila!..nothing. Did I change something before I left and I’ve forgotten about it? I check all of my settings and everything is correct. I make another run at wired and wireless. No go.

Somewhat aggravated I go ahead and check out. While doing so I complain at the front desk. You advertised it and I need it for business. This is why I chose your motel. The lady that is on duty can’t do anything I know. But she promises to tell the manager and see if she can get me a comp stay or something. Later that afternoon she calls and they have knocked $20 off of the bill.

So I arrive at my destination and go in and meet everyone. I sit down at the table, open my laptop and boot ready to get to work. No X windows. I reboot. Still nothing. This is bordering on the ridiculous.

I try resetting X with the tools provided by CentOS. It says everything is installed and ready. Still no X. Ok I’ll boot to runlevel 3 and check for an update, check my history, look at the xorg.conf and check the logs. Nothing shows as wrong and the networking won’t even start. Now it’s even more ridiculous.

I know what you’re thinking. This DODO actually had internet at the hotel. No I didn’t. I wasn’t the only one to complain about there not being any internet.

Ok I’m on a SLES project. On of the resident engineers has an openSuSE 11.1 disk. I install this and get to work.

I live to regret this decision though. After I get to my hotel I install and fire up Skype. I setup my webcam and call my wife. No webcam and no microphone. But that’s another story.

So much for Day 2. I’m concluding my travel days here. Work goes well and the webcam and the mic continue to be a hassle. More the mic than the webcam but who’s counting…

-j