Dell NetWorker 19.9 Administration Guide

Determining the IP name search order

NetWorker relies on the operating system to determine the order in which to check name resolution services. Before troubleshooting a possible name resolution error, determine the search order that is used by the operating system.

The name resolution search order differs for each operating system:

• Linux, Solaris, and HP-UX operating systems use the hosts database entry in the /etc/nsswitch.conf file to define the name resolution search order.

  For example, when the operating system checks the DNS Server and then the hosts file, the nsswitch.conf entry appears as follows:

  hosts: dns files

• AIX operating systems use one of three methods to select the name resolution search order:
  • The NSORDER environment variable.

    For example, when the operating system checks the hosts file first and then DNS, the NSORDER environment variables appears as follows:

    NSORDER=local,bind4

  • The hosts database entry in the /etc/netsvc.conf file.

    For example, when the operating system performs name resolution checks by using the DNS Server and then the hosts file, the hosts entry in the netsvc.conf file appears as follows:

    hosts=local,bind4

  • The /etc/irs.conf file.
    For example, when the operating system checks the hosts file first and then the DNS (IPv4/IPv6 address), the hosts entries in irs.conf file appear as follows for IPv4/IPv6:

    • IPv4 hosts local
      hosts dns4

    • IPv6 hosts local6
      hosts dns6

    NOTE:The NSORDER environment variable setting overrides the settings in the /etc/netsvc.conf file and the /etc/irs.conf file. The /etc/netsvc.conf file setting overrides the /etc/irs.conf file setting.