In the above linked section of the handbook, I don't think the proper way of setting a system's domain name is clearly indicated. In the past, it was done via a setting in the /etc/conf.d/domainname file. Now, it is done by adding the proper line to /etc/hosts. It might be helpful to add a note about this at the top of that section, something like "Previously, to set the domainname on a Gentoo system, one used the domainname init.d script. As of sys-apps/baselayout-1.12, this script has been removed. The proper way to set the domainname now is by adding the proper entry to the /etc/hosts file (see below)."
Mike, you're correct. I personally made the commit for this some time ago, at UberLord's request. Somewhere along the way, it didn't make it into the networked handbooks, though it did go into the networkless handbooks. Apologies; it will be fixed in a few minutes.
Fixed in CVS; thanks for reporting.
OK, we should not be instructing users to set a domain like that. Q) Do I need a domain? A) Only if your ISP or Network Administrator says so. Or if you have a DNS server but not a DHCP server. Q) I think I need a domain. A) If you have a domain of homelan, it just means you can `ping server` and it will try `server.homelan` first. Q) Right, I've set my domain! But it's erased /etc/resolv.conf and I've lost my nameservers A) You didn't read the above. If you're that insistent though you should set dns_server_lo="1.2.3.4" Q) What's the point of this anyway? A) All dns_server and dns_domain provde is a means of updating /etc/resolv.conf We act like a DHCP client in this regard and just stamp over it with what we know. So if you want to mix and match settings from different interfaces then look into resolvconf-gentoo to manage this for you.
(In reply to comment #3) We already have a <note> right after that bit: "Note: For more information on configuring DNS and NIS, please read the examples provided in /etc/conf.d/net.example. Also, you may want to emerge resolvconf-gentoo to help manage your DNS/NIS setup." I take it you still feel that this is insufficient?
Seeing as I've had at least 6 users in the forum and at least one fellow developer wave this page at me all with the same problem last week I think so. The problem nameservers disappeared from /etc/resolv.conf Their problem They set a domain because the handbook "told them to" The answer Handbook should not tell them how to set a domain. Or if it does, explain what the domain is, how it should be used and configured and what else you need to configure. Like nameservers For DNS stuff a domain by itself is utterly pointless unless you maintain the entire DNS tree in /etc/hosts. You need a nameserver at least.
(In reply to comment #5) Fair enough. I'm okay with just leaving out DNS and NIS stuff entirely from the handbook, and just leaving in the bit about "read conf.d/net.example and emerge resolvconf-gentoo".
Or just tell them how to set the domain name and prevent baselayout from messing it up. BTW, if you don't define a domain name, you get another bunch of users wondering where "(none)" comes from.
Created attachment 113041 [details, diff] hb-install-config.xml.patch Proposed changes. I'd like to get this settled ASAP, as I need to get going on the 2007.0 handbooks, and the sooner the 2006.1 changes are made, the better. :)
Better than what we have presently I guess :)
Fixed in CVS, thanks for the comments & the New DNS Mojo.
