Linux From Scratch
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# Creating the /etc/hosts file

If you want to configure a network card, you have to decide on the IP-address, FQDN and possible aliases for use in the /etc/hosts file. An example is:

> <my-IP> myhost.mydomain.org aliases

Make sure 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 172.31.0.0
> C 192.168.0.0 through 192.168.255.0

A valid IP address could be 192.168.1.1. A valid FQDN for this IP could be www.linuxfromscratch.org

If you're not going to use a network card, you still need to come up with a FQDN. This is necessary for programs like Sendmail to operate correctly (in fact; Sendmail won't run when it can't determine the FQDN).

If you don't configure a network card, create a new file `/etc/hosts` by running:

`cat > /etc/hosts << "EOF"`
# Begin /etc/hosts (no network card version)
127.0.0.1 www.mydomain.com <value of HOSTNAME> localhost
# End /etc/hosts (no network card version)
`EOF`

If you do configure a network card, create a new file `/etc/hosts` containing:

`cat > /etc/hosts << "EOF"`
# Begin /etc/hosts (network card version)
127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost
192.168.1.1 www.mydomain.org <value of HOSTNAME>
# End /etc/hosts (network card version)
`EOF`

Of course, change the 192.168.1.1 and www.mydomain.org to your own liking (or requirements if you are assigned an IP-address by a network/system administrator and you plan on connecting this machine to that network).

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