configuring my network...how does domain name affect my system?

[andre]

I've been installing various linux distros for several years, but I still don't know what to answer when slackware asks for my domain name. in other distros, I've always ignored it and don't fill it in ( because I don't have one). but the slackware 9 I'm installing seems to require an answer so I gave it one off the top of my head, "thecave.ca" .

ok, so I'm a newbie when it comes to how the internet and networks work.... a domain name is something you have to register from a organization??? or is it just a name I pick and use like a workgroup name in windows?

now that I have this arbitrary name for my domain name does this matter? is this bad? harmfull even?

I'm asking these questions cause I'm having trouble connecting to my adsl, using rp-pppoe, when other times(other distros) I'ts been a snap.

[Alex Cavnar, aka alc6379]

The domain name is usually used as a logical grouping for an organization.

But, if Slackware's installer insists on needing a domain name, I usually would give it localdomain. Then, if you didn't need it, I'd edit out of the proper config file. I've forgotten exactly what file that is, though... Try one of these:

/etc/network
/etc/hostname
/etc/rc.d/rc.network

One of those should have your host name and domain in it.