Why do I need mDNSResponder/howl?

[Paul Howarth]

Randy wrote:
> It took me two days to figure out why my firewall began broadcasting 
> packets so fast that the network came to a halt, EVERY time I rebooted 
> my new linux server.  mDNSResponder was the problem.  My network was 
> ALREADY set up with DNS, DHCP, etc.  Everything was ALREADY automatic.  
> In fact, the new fedora box WAS the DHCP and DNS server.  It had a fixed 
> IP.  Why was it running mDNSResponder?  For me, this wasn't "plug & 
> play".  It was "What the @^%#@! is going on with the router!  It can't 
> be the Fedora server, because Fedora distributions have never caused 
> problems!"

Strange; I have a Fedora box running DHCP, DNS etc. and didn't see a 
broadcast storm (though I did turn off mDNSResponder soon after 
installation as an unneeded service). I'd have though these things would 
be designed to co-exist peacefully with the ubiqitous DHCP etc.

Paul.