Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 13:35:56 -0400
Message-Id: <199905121735.NAA18914@envy.delorie.com>
From: DJ Delorie <dj AT delorie DOT com>
To: djgpp-workers AT delorie DOT com
In-reply-to: <3738C473.D2105F0D@meridian22.net> (message from Richard Dawe on
	Wed, 12 May 1999 00:59:47 +0100)
Subject: Re: $HOSTNAME doesn't override library code
References:  <3738C473 DOT D2105F0D AT meridian22 DOT net>
Reply-To: djgpp-workers AT delorie DOT com
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> I've just been looking at the source file
> src/libc/compat/unistd/gethostn.c and I noticed that you cannot
> override the string returned by gethostname() by setting
> $HOSTNAME. Would it not be better to let the user override it?
> Otherwise programs are stuck with the ugly LAN Manager names - no
> DNS domain name, etc.

The only time you need a host name is when you're doing something
network-aware.  In those cases, you need the *right* name, not a
*pretty* name.  In all cases, the name returned by the network
software is the one you should use.  If you want a DNS name, install a
TCP/IP network package.