> [EMAIL PROTECTED]:~$ host student2 > student2 has address 192.168.0.31
I believe 'host' goes directly to /etc/resolv.conf to see what your DNS servers are. > [EMAIL PROTECTED]:~$ ping student2 > ping: unknown host student2 But 'ping' goes through the 'normal' resolution process, the first step of which is looking in /etc/nsswitch.conf. There I suspect you don't have: hosts: files dns which is probably what you need. Alexis -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]