Other Network Databases

The remaining network databases seldom need to be edited.

networks database

The networks database associates network names with network numbers, enabling some applications to use and display names rather than numbers. The networks database is based on information in the /etc/inet/networks file. This file contains the names of all networks to which your network connects through routers.

The Solaris installation program configures the initial networks database. However, if you add a new network to your existing network topology, you must update this database.

The networks(4) man page contains full syntax information for /etc/inet/networks. The man page's basic format follows:

network-name network-number nickname(s) #comment

network-name is the official name for the network.

network-number is the number assigned by the InterNIC.

nickname is any other name by which the network is known.

#comment is any note that you want to append to an entry in the file.

You must maintain the networks file. The netstat program uses the information in this database to produce status tables.

A sample /etc/networks file follows.

Example 5–8 /etc/networks File

#ident	"@(#)networks	1.4	92/07/14 SMI"	/* SVr4.0 1.1	*/
#
# The networks file associates Internet Protocol (IP) network
# numbers with network names. The format of this file is:
#
# 	network-name		 	 network-number		 	 nicnames . . .

# The loopback network is used only for intra-machine communication
loopback		 	 127

#
# Internet networks
#
arpanet     10	   arpa  # Historical
ucb-ether   46	   ucbether
#
# local networks

eng   193.9.0  #engineering
acc   193.9.1  #accounting
prog  193.9.2  #programming