nslookup doesn't work

[Nostradamus]

I have a Solaris machine running SunOS 5.7 and bind 8.2.2
A problem appeared recently. I can no longer run nslookup on that server.

This is what I get.
# nslookup
*** Can't find server name for address 172.18.50.8: Non-existent host/domain
*** Default servers are not available

If I run nslookup from my workstation and choose the one above as server, everything works fine.
172.18.50.8 doesn't have problem resolving though. Just this nslookup thing that bothers me.

Tips anyone? /Sören

 

[jad]

your lookup servers probably aren't in /etc/resolv.conf ... try putting them in there.

 

[Nostradamus]

I thought you might say that.
already checked that. resolv.conf looks fine.
Even ran
vi /etc/resolv.conf and :set list
to look for bad characters. everything looks normal.

I doubt that the problem is in resolv.conf
/Sören

 

[wtrepani]

I don't know if it is necessary or not, but here is something I have always done.

I always put the DNS servers in the /etc/hosts file with the correct IP addresses. I still put just the IP address in the /etc/resolv.conf file, but it is just an extra step I always took. Judging by the error you have, that might help.

Will

 

[Nostradamus]

The server is already in the /etc/hosts file.

Any other tips?
/Sören

 

[wtrepani]

Two other things to check are the hosts line in the /etc/nsswitch.conf file. Make sure it says something like:

hosts: files dns

Also, verify that the address for your gateway is correct in /etc/defaultgateway. I always list the gateway IP address in /etc/hosts with the name gateway too, I don't know if it makes much difference, but it may be worth a shot.

Will

 

[Nostradamus]

both nsswitch.conf and /etc/defaultrouter looks normal.

Can't see how the default gateway has anything to do with this. It's "local resolution" that's my problem.
I can ping every host on any net. Even the hostname of the local dns-server that's bothering me.
/Sören