Why does sendmail think its host is named `localhost' is it named?

[base60]

Harry Putnam wrote:
> NOVICE alert!
> 
> Setup: Gentoo linux (kernel 2.6.15)
>        bind-9.3.2
>        sendmail-8.13.4
> 
> I've just started running bind-9 and learning what I need to know to
> serve a small home lan as an Authenticating nameserver.
> 
> It seems to be working ok and I can do lookups of my own (private)
> hosts, then anything that needs to go outside my network works too.
> 
> I see one phenomena that puzzles me.  My sendmail logs show that
> sendmail thinks my host is named `localhost'.

If you're running a reasonably current sendmail, check to see if there
are two processes associated with it... one running as root and the
other as smmsp.

Most likely this is the case, and also the explanation for what
you are seeing.

If you do find both processes and want an explanation, read
the sendmail docs regarding priv separation etc.




> It can also be seen in the righthand side of local mail like:
>   reader at localhost.local.net0
> And the message ids of command line mail are (simulated):
>    Message-ID: 0970707070707 at localhost.local.net0
> 
> My hosts name is reader.local.net0
> 
> The hostname program:
>     hostname
>      reader
> 
> The domainname program:
>     domainname
>      local.net0
> 
> Both know how this host is named.  I wondered if sendmail would be
> getting what it uses for hostname from a dns lookup instead of what is
> returned by hostname?  And if so why `named' is telling it `localhost'.
> 
> Almost certainly some novice error on my part... but what?
> 
> ======================================
> zone file:
> 
> $TTL 1D
> local.net0.     IN SOA    reader.local.net0.  hostmaster (
>                         200405191 ; serial
>                         8H        ; refresh
>                         4H        ; retry
>                         4W        ; expire
>                         1D )      ; minimum
> ; define the authoritative name server
> local.net0.     IN     NS      reader.local.net0.
> ; [HP 01/30/06 09:56 The 10 indicates priority [lower is higher]]
>                 MX      10 reader.local.net0
> ; define domain functions with CNAMEs
> ;[HP 01/29/06 08:29  ]depot           CNAME   stallman
> ;[HP 01/29/06 08:29  ]www             CNAME   cerf
> ;localhost.local.net0.		CNAME		reader.local.net0.
> ;tic.local.net0.        	CNAME    reader.local.net0.
> smtp.local.net0.         CNAME		reader.local.net0.
> 
> ; just in case someone asks for localhost.local.net0
> localhost.local.net0.        A       127.0.0.1
> ; our hostnames, in alphabetical order
> ansil.local.net0.           A       192.168.0.21
> bjp.local.net0.             A       192.168.0.16
> reader.local.net0.          A       192.168.0.4
> fw.local.net0.              A       192.168.0.20
> harvey.local.net0.          A       192.168.0.22
> mob2.local.net0.            A       192.168.0.3
> 
> ====================
> 
> Reverse pointers file:
> 
> ;
> ; reverse pointers for 192.168.0.0 subnet
> ;
> $TTL 1D
> 0.168.192.in-addr.arpa.  IN SOA  reader.local.net0. reader.reader.local.net0. (
>               200405190  ; serial
>               28800      ; refresh (8 hours)
>               14400      ; retry (4 hours)
>               2419200    ; expire (4 weeks)
>               86400      ; minimum (1 day)
>               )
> ; define the authoritative name server
> 4.0.168.192.in-addr.arpa.  IN NS reader.local.net0. reader.reader.local.net0.
> ; our hosts, in numeric order
> 1.3.0.168.192.  IN PTR  mob2.local.net0.
> 2.4.0.168.192.  IN PTR  reader.local.net0.
> 3.16.0.168.192. IN PTR  bjp.local.net0.
> 4.20.0.168.192. IN PTR  fw.local.net0.
> 5.21.0.168.192. IN PTR  ansil.local.net0.
> 6.22.0.168.192. IN PTR  harvey.local.net0.
> 
>