2. The strategy

Linuxconf makes a small check with the DNS before trying to further configure the machine. It probes the DNS and wait for 4 seconds. It then reports an error if the DNS has failed to answer within this period. Here are different ideas supporting this strategy.

• You should have good network connectivity with your DNS. The DNS may be either located on the local ethernet network, or right on the other side of a PPP link.
• If no DNS is available near you (network wise), you are better off setting up a caching DNS on your machine. Linuxconf does this automatically when you create a DNS with it.
• DNS problems are probably the most difficult problems to track or identify for new users. Better try to detect the problem quickly.
• DNS do not fail often. When something is wrong there, the effect is so pervasive, that the user believes his machine is either hung or broken.