Re: How to get an IP address

[Clive Standbridge <list-user@tgstandbridges.plus.com>]

> Hi, 
> 
> I know how to get an IP address *info* using dig, but has anyone looked
> into how to get *only* the IP address? so that I can use, eg.
> 
>  the_ip=`get_ip host`

Hi Tong,

Kind people have already suggested dig and host, but may I make
another suggestion:

   getent hosts $hostname | awk '{print $1}'

It appears that host and dig only look at DNS, whereas you may be
using other name resolution methods e.g. a hosts file. "getent hosts"
takes account of that.

Also, getent is always installed (as far as I can tell), whereas host
and dig may not be installed.

I hope this helps.

-- 
Cheers,
Clive