because winXP is winXP and linux is linux (well, gnome is gnome). they're different, so they behave differently. the way that the X11 protocol (takes all the information from the gnome programs and sends it to XFree86) and XFree86 (what actually displays what's on your screen) works is like any other network protocol, in fact, if i were so inclined i could run gnome-session on my server in new jersey and display it on my screen here in southern maryland, about 300 miles away (though the refresh and latency would suck, heh). now, gnome wants to ENSURE that it's displaying on the correct screen and not where it's not wanted or where it shouldn't be. this is why it wants to make sure that the hostname it's finds on start is the proper one to display on. some things will panic and crash. -d www.gnome.org has more info, if you're so inclined to look for it. Julien Olivier said: >> That's a little easier.... That's what DNS is for..... >> >> /etc/hosts is there to remove the burden from DNS when things are >> *KNOWN*, ie, static IP addresses and hostnames. >> >> DHCP, by definition, is dynamic. Furthermore, a DHCP server [your >> router] is under no obligation to provide you with the same ip address >> every time you boot up [or worse, every time your lease expires!!!]. >> Let's say that your lease time is 3600 seconds. Then, every hour, >> the DHCP client is going to request a lease renewal. Usually, the >> DHCP server says 'Fine, here ya go, keep the same one for another >> 3600 seconds'. However, it doesn't have to. It could turn around >> and say 'Too bad.. Deal with a new IP/Hostname'. Would you want >> *all* of those to be added to your /etc/hosts? Because, now your old >> IP address is no longer localhost... > > OK, thanks for the explanation. I think I get it now. > > But what I still don't understand is: why don't I need to configure > anything for my laptop to connect to the internet on Windows XP, but I > have to modify /etc/hosts on Fedora ? > > -- > Julien Olivier <julo@xxxxxxxxxx> > > > -- > fedora-list mailing list > fedora-list@xxxxxxxxxx > To unsubscribe: http://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/fedora-list -+(duncan brown -+(duncanbrown@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx -+(http://www.linuxadvocate.net Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact. -- George Eliot
