resolver options ..

[Claus van de Vlierd]

  Hallo ,

  a) are these possible options available
     in the "/etc/resolv"  - file (at least under
      "RedHat AS 3")  like

     "options timeout:3 attempts:1 rotate"


     (which means , in my humble opinion :
       "ask for a DNS-resolution  the first IP-address
        in /etc/resolv.conf  only ONE time -- wait 3 seconds
        for an answer -- and having received none  ask the next IP given
        in "/etc/resolv !"  -- is this interpreatation correct ?!)


      really being used by ordinary applications ?!

   b) we still have the problem that our "sendmail" - daemon
      (RedHat AS 3) doesn't seem to care about these options :

       if the FIRST IP-address in "/etc/resolv.conf" does NOT answer to
        a DNS (port 53) query it (the sendmail - daemon) doesn't process
        any more -- instead of switching to the second IP address in
        "/etc/resolv.conf" and repeating the query with that address .. !

  c) do I MISUNDERSTAND something concerning this "resolv" - file   ----
      OR is it the fault of the "sendmail"-daemon ?!
       (applications like "ftp" , "scp" , Browsers etc. have NO problem
        to use the second entry in case the first does NOT answer ..  !)

   d) HOW con one FORCE to behave properly even when "the first entry" in
      "/etc/resolv.conf" does NOT answer to DNS-queries ?!

      perhaps  installing a caching DNS-Server on our Mail-System
      ist the BEST (ONLY ?!?) solution ?!

   e) thanx for a short hint -- and kind regards :

       Claus van de Vlierd