4.3BSD - /usr/man/cat5/resolver.0

RESOLVER(5)                                                        RESOLVER(5)


NAME
       resolver configuration file

SYNOPSIS
       /etc/resolv.conf

DESCRIPTION
       The  resolver  configuration  file contains information that is read by
       the resolver routines the first time they are  invoked  by  a  process.
       The  file is designed to be human readable and contains a list of name-
       value pairs that provide various types of resolver information.

       On a normally configured system this file should not be necessary.  The
       only  name  server  to  be queried will be on the local machine and the
       domain name is retrieved from the system.

       The different configuration options are:

       nameserver
              followed by the Internet address (in dot  notation)  of  a  name
              server that the resolver should query.  At least one name server
              should be listed.  Up to MAXNS (currently 3) name servers may be
              listed,  in that case the resolver library queries tries them in
              the order listed.  If no nameserver  entries  are  present,  the
              default  is  to  use the name server on the local machine.  (The
              algorithm used is to try a name server, and if the  query  times
              out, try the next, until out of name servers, then repeat trying
              all the name servers until  a  maximum  number  of  retries  are
              made).

       domain followed  by a domain name, that is the default domain to append
              to names that do not have a dot in them.  If no  domain  entries
              are  present,  the  domain  returned  by  gethostname(2) is used
              (everything after the first ‘.’).  Finally,  if  the  host  name
              does not contain a domain part, the root domain is assumed.

       The name value pair must appear on a single line, and the keyword (e.g.
       nameserver) must start the line.  The value follows the keyword,  sepa‐
       rated by white space.

FILES
       /etc/resolv.conf

SEE ALSO
       gethostbyname(3N), resolver(3), named(8)
       Name Server Operations Guide for BIND


4th Berkeley Distribution        May 15, 1986                      RESOLVER(5)