Hello, I am trying to get my copy of Netscape to work. when I go to access any website, it gives message that it can not reach a specific server. I have the dns servers for my ISP but how do I configure Netscape to use them? Thanks.
From: "Pierce C. Barnard" <pbarnard@ultranet.com>
Hello, I am trying to get my copy of Netscape to work. when I go to access any website, it gives message that it can not reach a specific server. I have the dns servers for my ISP but how do I configure Netscape to use them? Thanks.
DNS has nothing to do with Netscape. Start by trying to ping. When ping works it's almost certain that Netscape (and every other network program) works as if by magic. You need to put your nameserver IP address into /etc/resolve.conf thus: search free-comp-shop.com nameserver 208.218.130.4 nameserver 208.218.130.5 your names and numbers will vary. Also try ``nslookup'', and post error messages. -- -- Keith Wright <kwright@free-comp-shop.com> Programmer in Chief, Free Computer Shop <http://www.free-comp-shop.com> --- Food, Shelter, Source code. ---
On Tue, Nov 06, 2001 at 12:34:37AM -0500, Keith Wright wrote:
DNS has nothing to do with Netscape. Start by trying to ping.
??? Netscape has to use something to resolve hostnames...
network program) works as if by magic. You need to put your nameserver IP address into /etc/resolve.conf thus: search free-comp-shop.com nameserver 208.218.130.4 nameserver 208.218.130.5 your names and numbers will vary. Also try ``nslookup'', and post error messages.
A few notes: 1) /etc/resolv.conf is the filename. Put your name servers in there as above "nameserver <IP>", multiple name servers on multiple lines. You can add the "search <domain>" and/or "domain <domain>" bits if you want, but it'll only help you if you don't use FQDNs (fully qualified domain names). 2) Check /etc/nsswitch.conf, and find the line starting with "hosts:". nsswitch.conf (Name Service Switch) controls how the C library does resolving of various things (passwd, group, services, hosts, etc.) Make sure it looks something like "hosts: files dns", unless you're doing NIS/NIS+/etc on your network. 3) Tools like "nslookup", "host", and "dig" will help you figure out if DNS can resolve the names that you're searching for, but they won't tell you if the system uses DNS (see #2). Tools like "ping" will resolve via the C library, so you'll know if the host can be looked up that way. -- Randomly Generated Tagline: "What do you do then? I touch that button and pray really really fast." - Lennier on Babylon 5
From: Theo Van Dinter <felicity@kluge.net>
On Tue, Nov 06, 2001 at 12:34:37AM -0500, Keith Wright wrote:
DNS has nothing to do with Netscape. Start by trying to ping.
??? Netscape has to use something to resolve hostnames...
Of course. What I meant was that dorking around with the Netscape menus is not the way to fix it. Netscape also needs a graphic display, but if someone asks: ``I am trying to get Netscape to work, but I am stuck in text mode'', I will say graphics mode has nothing to do with Netscape, you must fix the X window system.
A few notes: <cut>
Good points. Pierce, let us know when it is fixed, or what new problem comes up. -- -- Keith Wright <kwright@free-comp-shop.com> Programmer in Chief, Free Computer Shop <http://www.free-comp-shop.com> --- Food, Shelter, Source code. ---
participants (3)
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Keith Wright -
Pierce C. Barnard -
Theo Van Dinter