Configuring a Resolver to Resolve Single-Label Domain Names

9.3.1 Problem

You want to configure a resolver so that it can resolve single-label domain names.

9.3.2 Solution

For a BIND resolver, configure the resolver's local domain name by adding a domain directive to resolv.conf. Specify the local domain name as the single argument to domain. For example:

domain foo.example

Now, when you use single-label domain names as arguments, the resolver will append the local domain name before looking them up.

With a Windows resolver, find the resolver configuration window and set the Domain (in Windows 95 or 98) or the Primary DNS Suffix (in Windows 2000 and Windows XP). To get to the right window in Windows 2000, right-click on My Computer and choose Properties Network Identification Properties.

9.3.3 Discussion

On most Unixish operating systems, setting the local domain name also determines how the OS interprets names that appear in system files, such as .rhosts and hosts.equiv. Single-label names in those files are assumed to end in the local domain name.

If you want to specify more than one domain name to append to domain name arguments, configure the resolver's search list, as shown in Section 9.4.

9.3.4 See Also

"The Local Domain Name" and "Windows 2000" in Chapter 6 of DNS and BIND; "DNS Suffix" in Chapter 6 of DNS on Windows 2000.