I have a Ubuntu Server 12.04 (amd64) machine on which, when I change /etc/hosts, the changes aren't picked up, even after a reboot. I am using /usr/bin/host to test, but none of the other programs seems to pick it up either.
This is a server and nscd and dnsmasq aren't installed. Also, the file /etc/nsswitch.conf contains the line:
hosts: files dns
so that I would expect it to work. I also checked that the mtime of the file changes with editing and tried running service networking restart (against all odds) and also resolvconf -u.
All commands where run as root where needed. The machine has network configured manually in /etc/network/interfaces and not via Network Manager (it isn't installed either).
Basically what I want to achieve is that the IP for a few hosts can be manipulated. The reason being that inside our network I get an IP to which I have no route, but I can use the external IP for that service via HTTPS.
What am I missing?
Note: no DNS server is locally running and the nameserver lines in /etc/resolv.conf (and the respective lines in interfaces) point to the DNS server that gives me the wrong IP.
Also note: I've searched on the web and read through the "similar questions", but my case doesn't seem to be covered.
/etc/host.conf is:
# The "order" line is only used by old versions of the C library.
order hosts,bind
multi on
Best Answer
The host command doesn't check the hosts file. From the manpage:
If you want to test lookups while respecting the hosts file, then use ping or getent.