converting internet addresses

[Chuck Swiger]

Lee_Shackelford at dot.ca.gov wrote:
> "What is the difference between what I am telling the
> DNS server and outgoing gateway router to do when I enter into my browser
> address box 'http://www.bsdcon.kwiki.org' and when I enter into my browser
> address box 'http://bsdcon.kwiki.org'?"

In this particular case, there is no difference.  Both names point to the same 
IP address:

1-sec# nslookup www.bsdcon.kwiki.org
Server:  localhost
Address:  127.0.0.1

Name:    www.bsdcon.kwiki.org
Address:  65.214.160.247

2-sec# nslookup bsdcon.kwiki.org
Server:  localhost
Address:  127.0.0.1

Name:    bsdcon.kwiki.org
Address:  65.214.160.247

You see different sites for the different names because the server is using 
named virtual domains.  In other words, the fact that your browser connects via 
one name or the other is the reason why you see different content as the result.

-- 
-Chuck