DNS and resolv.conf

[Tyler Smith <tyler.smith@mail.mcgill.ca>]

Hi,

I think I've sorted out my internet connection problem, at least 
temporarily. I determined that I was having DNS problems, as I could 
ping numerical IP addresses, but not domain names. My resolv.conf file, 
as automatically generated, lists my router's address as the nameserver. 
I contacted my ISP and found out the DNS address they use, and added it 
manually to resolv.conf. Everything seems fine now.

I don't know much about networking, but from what I've read it seems 
that I should expect resolv.conf to get rewritten regularly. My 
questions are:

1) How to insure that the correct DNS address is included when 
resolv.conf is generated?

2) Do ISPs change DNS addresses often? Is there a way to detect it when 
it happens, so I don't have to call them up for the new one every time 
it happens?

I apologize if these are silly questions, but I was up half the night 
trying to figure this out and I'm pooped.

Cheers,

Tyler