Bug#665775: [netcfg] Confusing prompt for Domain name

[Filipus Klutiero <chealer@gmail.com>]

Package: netcfg
Version: 1.70
Severity: normal

From as far as I can remember, debian-installer prompts for a domain name during the installation. I never knew what to enter there.

The prompt:

Template: netcfg/get_domain
Type: string
# :sl1:
_Description: Domain name:
 The domain name is the part of your Internet address to the right of your
 host name.  It is often something that ends in .com, .net, .edu, or .org. 
 If you are setting up a home network, you can make something up, but make
 sure you use the same domain name on all your computers.

The manual says:

3.3.4. Network Settings

If your computer is connected to a network 24 hours a day (i.e., an Ethernet or equivalent connection — not a PPP connection), you should ask your network's system administrator for this information.

• Your host name (you may be able to decide this on your own).

• Your domain name.

• Your computer's IP address.

• The netmask to use with your network.

• The IP address of the default gateway system you should route to, if your network has a gateway.

• The system on your network that you should use as a DNS (Domain Name Service) server.

On the other hand, if your administrator tells you that a DHCP server is available and is recommended, then you don't need this information because the DHCP server will provide it directly to your computer during the installation process.

http://d-i.alioth.debian.org/manual/en.i386/ch03s03.html#id316925

First, please avoid using "your" here. Prefer "the computer's Internet address" and "the computer's hostname".

The main problem is that a host may have any number of Internet addresses. Having 1 is just one case. While the case where hosts have several addresses may be less problematic, one is left quite confused when the host has no address. One doesn't necessarily have a network, and if there is a network, it doesn't necessarily have a system administrator. Also, although DHCP does provide an IP address and some parameters, the domain name is not necessarily provided by DHCP.

Finally, the first sentence ("The domain name is the part of your Internet address to the right of your host name.") is misleading. As mentioned in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_name#Domain_name_syntax :

A hostname is a domain name that has at least one associated IP address.

Meanwhile, for those wondering what to enter, the domain name will be written to /etc/hosts (see netcfg_write_common() in netcfg-common.c).