When Local Files Provide the Name Service

On a network that uses local files for the name service, systems that run in local files mode consult their individual /etc/inet/hosts files for IPv4 addresses and host names of other systems on the network. Therefore, these system's /etc/inet/hosts files must contain the following:

• Loopback address

• IPv4 address and host name of the local system (primary network interface)

• IPv4 address and host name of additional network interfaces that are attached to this system, if applicable

• IPv4 addresses and host names of all hosts on the local network

• IPv4 addresses and host names of any routers that this system must know about, if applicable

• IPv4 address of any system your system wants to refer to by its host name

Figure 10–1 shows the /etc/inet/hosts file for system tenere. This system runs in local files mode. Notice that the file contains the IPv4 addresses and host names for every system on the 192.9.200 network. The file also contains the IPv4 address and interface name timbuktu-201. This interface connects the 192.9.200 network to the 192.9.201 network.

A system that is configured as a network client uses the local /etc/inet/hosts file for its loopback address and IPv4 address.

Figure 10–1 /etc/inet/hosts File for a System Running in Local Files Mode