dig: OK. ping: unknown host ??

[Torsten Behle]

Joseph S D Yao wrote:

> >> having a local nameserver running Linux-krnl 2.2.10, Bind 4.9.7.

> In /etc/nsswitch.conf, does the line that starts "hosts:" just contain
> hosts: files or does it also say:
> hosts: files dns

Yep. This file is OK.
/etc/named.boot also is quite plain. No special options.

I have an AMAZING example by now.
Pinging the SAME HOST on different CNAMEs give different results.
How about that (sorry for being verbous)?
It's weird. Even debuglevel 4 does not show any differences.
Dumping the database shows the same entries for both CNAMEs.

root at saturn:/etc > /sbin/init.d/named restart           < ------------- Empty cache
root at saturn:/etc > ping nsdir1.wilkens-net.com     < ------------- Doesn't work
ping: unknown host: nsdir1.wilkens-net.co
root at saturn:/etc > ping nsconfig.wilkens-net.com   < ------------- Works!
PING nshafmailhost1.wilkens-net.com (172.16.13.5): 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 172.16.13.5: icmp_seq=0 ttl=128 time=8.141 ms
64 bytes from 172.16.13.5: icmp_seq=1 ttl=128 time=0.821 ms
--- nshafmailhost1.wilkens-net.com ping statistics ---
2 packets transmitted, 2 packets received, 0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max = 0.821/4.481/8.141 ms

root at saturn:/etc > dig nsconfig.wilkens-net.com   < ------------- Check entry

; <<>> DiG 2.2 <<>> nsconfig.wilkens-net.com
;; res options: init recurs defnam dnsrch
;; got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 6
;; flags: qr aa rd ra; Ques: 1, Ans: 2, Auth: 2, Addit: 2
;; QUESTIONS:
;;      nsconfig.wilkens-net.com, type = A, class = IN

;; ANSWERS:
nsconfig.wilkens-net.com.       86400   CNAME   nshafmailhost1.wilkens-net.com.
nshafmailhost1.wilkens-net.com. 86400   A       172.16.13.5

AUTHORITY, ADDITIONAL.... all the same

;; Total query time: 3 msec
;; FROM: saturn to SERVER: default -- 127.0.0.1
;; WHEN: Sat Oct 30 01:24:19 1999
;; MSG SIZE  sent: 42  rcvd: 181

root at saturn:/etc > dig nsdir1.wilkens-net.com   < ------------- Check other entry

; <<>> DiG 2.2 <<>> nsdir1.wilkens-net.com
;; res options: init recurs defnam dnsrch
;; got answer:
;; ->>HEADER<<- opcode: QUERY, status: NOERROR, id: 6
;; flags: qr aa rd ra; Ques: 1, Ans: 2, Auth: 2, Addit: 2
;; QUESTIONS:
;;      nsdir1.wilkens-net.com, type = A, class = IN

;; ANSWERS:
nsdir1.wilkens-net.com. 86400   CNAME   nshafmailhost1.wilkens-net.com.
nshafmailhost1.wilkens-net.com. 86400   A       172.16.13.5

AUTHORITY, ADDITIONAL.... all the same

;; Total query time: 3 msec
;; FROM: saturn to SERVER: default -- 127.0.0.1
;; WHEN: Sat Oct 30 01:24:26 1999
;; MSG SIZE  sent: 40  rcvd: 179


I have a line

exit ns_init(), need maintenance immediately

in the named-starting debug-log.
However, I didn't find any flaws in the conf-files (even reducing
the named to a caching-only server gives this message).
AND the DNS works perfectly on 98% of all queries.
I really have to search for this kind of errors.

Thinking of installing Bind 8 with a minimal chance to
get this solved.... :-(

Torsten