Ethereal-users: Re: [Ethereal-users] name resolution

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From: Andrew Hood <ajhood@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 27 Feb 2005 22:48:39 +1100
Guy Harris wrote:
richard.jackson@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:

Is there any way to make the name resolution use the hosts file on the
machine where ethereal is running?


On what OS are you running Ethereal, and what version of Ethereal are you running?

When translating host names to addresses (e.g., in capture and display filters), Ethereal uses "gethostbyname()". On some systems that can probably be configured not to use the hosts file, but that's not the way it's configured by default, so it should be using the hosts file.

On *nixes the databases searched and the order is which they are searched is configureable. On Linux and Solaris it is /etc/nsswitch.conf and on AIX /etc/netsvc.conf

Others left as an excercise for the reader. Examples:

hosts:      files dns
networks:   files dns

and

hosts:      files nisplus nis dns
networks:   nisplus [NOTFOUND=return] files


When translating IP addresses to host names:

If you have a version of Ethereal without GNU ADNS support, or if you've disabled GNU ADNS support (by turning off the "Enable concurrent DNS name resolution" preference in the "Name resolution" preferences), Ethereal will use "gethostbyaddr()" to resolve addresses in packets. On some systems that can probably be configured not to use the hosts file, but that's not the way it's configured by default, so it should use the hosts file.

If you have a version of Ethereal with GNU ADNS support, and GNU ADNS support is enabled:

In releases prior to 0.10.8, only GNU ADNS would be used - the hosts file wouldn't be used.

    In 0.10.8 and later, the hosts file should be used as well as GNU ADNS.

--
There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes.
                -- Dr. Who