SDB:Name Resolution Does Not Work with Several Concurrent DHCP Clients

Version: 8.0

Symptom

In some cases, the file /etc/resolv.conf is not written when several network devices are configured and activated as DHCP clients. As a result, the name resolution does not work.

Cause

When several DHCP clients are used concurrently, it often makes no sense to assign write permissions for /etc/resolv.conf to all of them. Only one DHCP client (usually the first one) will be started with write permissions for name resolution.

If, on the other hand, several DHCP clients will be concurrently active but only one of them will be required at a given time, it may be reasonable to allow all of them to configure the name resolution (i.e., to write /etc/resolv.conf).

Solution

Set the following option in the file ifcfg of all network devices configured as DHCP clients. This file is located at /etc/sysconfig/network/

DHCLIENT_PRIMARY_DEVICE=yes

To do this, start konsole or xterm and log in as root with the command su -. To find out what network devices are configured as DHCP clients, execute the command:

grep -Hi dhcp /etc/sysconfig/network/ifcfg-*

Open the file with an ASCII editor, such as pico, and append the option mentioned above. Save the file and restart the network with the command

rcnetwork restart <keyword>dhcp,dhcpcd,resolv.conf,nameserver,ifcfg</keyword>