dns problems 1

[Nostradamus]

I´ll try to explain as good as I can, but ask questions if you don´t understand my setup or problem.

We have a nameserver which hosts our main domain (called domain.se here). That nameserver has delegated a subdomain, called underdomain.domain.se in this scenario.

I´ve got two old AIX 4.2 machines. (These are not the nameservers)
the resolv.conf and netsvc.conf are identical on both machines.

resolv.conf:
nameserver = ip of ns for underdomain.domain.se
search = domain.se
domain = underdomain.domain.se

netsvc.conf:
hosts=local,bind

the local hosts-file doesn´t resolv the queries below.

from one aix-machine I type 'ping abc' (abc´s FQDN is abc.domain.se). The respond i quick and correct.
I then type 'ping def' (def´s FQDN is def.underdomain.domain.se) and I get no response. Can´t find hostname it says.

On the other machine it´s the opposite.
I type 'ping abc' and get no response! (Can´t find hostname). But 'ping def' get answers fast and correctly.

I don´t want to write the whole domain-name (def.underdomain.domain.se) whenever I want to ping something.

What configuration must I have missed? /Sören

 

[vickersdc]

What happens if you try to use the nslookup command to get the entries for these hosts..?

What entries have been maintained in the arp tables..?

Dave V.

 

[Nostradamus]

nslookup says same thing as ping.
can resolv one hostname but not the other, and the opposite on machine #2.

Nothing has ever been maintained in the arp-table since I found the problem. Ping:s and such, that is.
Isn´t that weird? /Sören

 

[vickersdc]

Well, arp tables entries will time out so perhaps that's no great surprise.

When you did the nslookup were the dns servers that replied the correct ones...? Are the routes OK to the dns servers..?

Dave V.

 

[Nostradamus]

As far as I can see it doesn´t hold the arp-entrys for any time at all. What is the default time-out? I looked up the arp table directly after the ping and it didn´t add anything.
Neither my ping or any of the 30 users (who are telnetting in) are being shown in the arp-table.

same nameserver was asked in nslookup.

the routes are correct and identical on both machines. I can communicate easily if I use ip-adresses.
/Sören

 

[chgwhat]

I don't know if this will work on aix but can you try
resolv.conf:
nameserver = ip of ns for underdomain.domain.se
search = domain.se underdomain.domain.se
Tony ... aka chgwhat

When in doubt,,, Power out...

 

[vickersdc]

While I carry on thinking about this - have you checked for typos..? I know I've searched for ages in the past trying to find out why something didn't work and then found I'd mistyped something. Have a real good close look.

I'll see what else I can find.

Dave V.

 

[Nostradamus]

I thought the search parameter was there to inform what other suffixes to search for when default fails?
If resolving underdomain.domain.se fails it automatically tries domain.se

I´ve also tried putting two nameserver parameters in each resolv.conf
nameserver = ip of ns for underdomain.domain.se
nameserver = ip of ns for domain.se
without success.
/Sören

 

[Nostradamus]

I´ve compared the files between the machines, but I guess it won´t do anything to have another look.
The order in wich the lines are listed differs a little between the machines. Could that have anything to do with it?
one begins with the nameserver parameters while the other begins with domain.
/Sören

 

[vickersdc]

I just re-read your initial post - and noticed that you are using both a "domain" entry and a "search" entry in the resolv.conf file.

You're not supposed to do this as they are exclusive entries. If both appear in the file then whichever one appears last is used. Although you may have the same entries in both systems, are they in the same order..?

 

[Nostradamus]

Vickersdc: You´ve got a point there...
I´ll be out of the office until later today, but then I´ll look into it.

Sounds like it could be the answer to my problem though.

Thanks in advance!
/Sören

 

[Nostradamus]

You were right on that last response vickersdc: *vote*
My problem is solved and I´ve learned something new once again.
Thanks a lot!
/Sören