If a network card is to be configured, decide on the IP address,
FQDN, and possible aliases for use in the /etc/hosts
file. The syntax is:
<IP address> myhost.example.org aliases
Unless the computer is to be visible to the Internet (i.e., there is a registered domain and a valid block of assigned IP addresses—most users do not have this), make sure that the IP address is in the private network IP address range. Valid ranges are:
Class Networks
A 10.0.0.0
B 172.16.0.0 through 172.31.0.255
C 192.168.0.0 through 192.168.255.255
A valid IP address could be 192.168.1.1. A valid FQDN for this IP
could be www.linuxfromscratch.org
(not
recommended because this is a valid registered domain address and
could cause domain name server issues).
Even if not using a network card, an FQDN is still required. This is necessary for certain programs to operate correctly.
Create the /etc/hosts
file by running:
cat > ${CLFS}/etc/hosts << "EOF"
# Begin /etc/hosts (network card version)
127.0.0.1 localhost
[192.168.1.1]
[<HOSTNAME>.example.org]
[HOSTNAME]
# End /etc/hosts (network card version)
EOF
The [192.168.1.1]
and
[<HOSTNAME>.example.org]
values
need to be changed for specific users or requirements (if assigned an
IP address by a network/system administrator and the machine will be
connected to an existing network).
If a network card is not going to be configured, create the
/etc/hosts
file by running:
cat > ${CLFS}/etc/hosts << "EOF"
# Begin /etc/hosts (no network card version)
127.0.0.1 [<HOSTNAME>.example.org]
[HOSTNAME]
localhost
# End /etc/hosts (no network card version)
EOF