On Thu, Nov 26, 2009 at 12:55:32PM +0100, Joachim Schrod wrote:

Otto Rodusek wrote: [ 8< ]

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hosts: files mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns

That means that if hotmail.com's MX record is not found in Zeroconf (i.e., the avahi daemon, implementing Apple's Bonjour protocol), it returns immediately, without contacting your DNS servers.

There are two possible remedies:

1) If you don't know what Zeroconf is and have no Apple system, remove the string "mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] " from the line above. I.e., leave only files and dns.

But then we might lose the abilty to resolve hostname without having setup a DNS server in the LAN.

2) Otherwise, check that avahi is running. I can't help you further in that use case, there others must chime in. (I don't use it. This stuff is good, as long as it works, and is pure horror if it doesn't work. Just like all things from Apple. I'm an old Unix grey beard (literally) and will not adapt to this new-fangled stuff. DNS works for me and it also doesn't help me get the kids off my lawn... :-) :-))

Independent if 40+ or 50+, Zeroconf, Automatic Private IP Addressing, or which other name you use and also independent of the operating system in use this no black magic limited to teenies. It is how things are intended to work in a home environment. Maybe even in small offices. Yet another KISS approach. But back to the technical issue: chkconfig avahi-daemon chkconfig avahi-dnsconfd both commands return "on" with a plain openSUSE 11.2 system. With other words the avahi-daemon and avahi-dnsconfd services are enabled to get started while the system's boot process. And: service avahi-daemon status service avahi-dnsconfd status both commands return "running" on the same system. Now we know the services got started and are still running. Lars -- Lars Müller [ˈlaː(r)z ˈmʏlɐ] Samba Team SUSE Linux, Maxfeldstraße 5, 90409 Nürnberg, Germany

Joachim Schrod wrote:

Otto Rodusek wrote:

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Joachim Schrod wrote:

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Otto Rodusek wrote:

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I've recently set up a new OpenSuse11.1 server. I need a simple smtp request - mail out system errors to the sysadmin as/when necessary.

Nov 26 15:49:42 bunyip postfix/error[2285]: 059CBC658B: to=, relay=none, delay=71849, delays=71820/28/0/0.1, dsn=4.4.3, status=deferred (delivery temporarily suspended: Host or domain name not found. Name service error for name=hotmail.com type=MX: Host not found, try again)

What is the output of "host -t mx hotmail.com"? In nsswitch.conf, is "dns" listed on the hosts line?

I think you've hit on something!! Below are the results from the server that is not able to smtp out: So any idea what the problem could be??

bunyip:/etc # host -t mx hotmail.com ;; connection timed out; no servers could be reached bunyip:/etc # cat nsswitch.conf # hosts: files mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns

That means that if hotmail.com's MX record is not found in Zeroconf (i.e., the avahi daemon, implementing Apple's Bonjour protocol), it returns immediately, without contacting your DNS servers.

There are two possible remedies:

1) If you don't know what Zeroconf is and have no Apple system, remove the string "mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] " from the line above. I.e., leave only files and dns.

2) Otherwise, check that avahi is running. I can't help you further in that use case, there others must chime in. (I don't use it. This stuff is good, as long as it works, and is pure horror if it doesn't work. Just like all things from Apple. I'm an old Unix grey beard (literally) and will not adapt to this new-fangled stuff. DNS works for me and it also doesn't help me get the kids off my lawn... :-) :-))

Joachim

PS: No need to answer me personally, just reply to the list.

Hi, Thanks for all the helpful hints - tried all of them but postfix/sendmail still can't send out any mail!! I'm a bit confused with this dns issue - mainly if I open firefox or konquer, I have no problems surfing the net - even zyppr does all the updates without complaint - seems that ONLY postfix is giving an issue. As Joachim mentioned I tried the host command with the following results: bunyip:/etc # host gmail.com gmail.com has address 209.85.225.83 gmail.com has address 74.125.79.83 gmail.com has address 74.125.127.83 ;; connection timed out; no servers could be reached bunyip:/etc # host -t mx gmail.com ;; connection timed out; no servers could be reached bunyip:/etc # It kinda works in that it can identifiy the correct host address just can't resolve any mx records!! I have tried to turn of all firewalls (just in case it was a firewall issue) however I still get the same result. Anyone else can suggest something else to try to resolve this. Thanks for all the helpful feedbacks!! -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org