[PLUG] localhost

linux-yug linux-yug at xprt.net
Thu Dec 18 17:52:25 UTC 2008


On Thu, 2008-12-18 at 09:24 -0800, Terry Griffin wrote:
> On Thursday 18 December 2008 7:28 am, linux-yug wrote:
> > On Wed, 2008-12-17 at 23:39 -0800, Terry Griffin wrote:
> > > On Wednesday 17 December 2008 11:22 pm, linux-yug wrote:
> > > > On Wed, 2008-12-17 at 23:00 -0800, drew wymore wrote:
> > > > > You want to ping 127.0.0.1 which is the local loopback on the nic
> > > >
> > > > Well, I think you said the magic word loopback....  I do associate
> > > > loopback with localhost.. but, does it loopback through the nic or not?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Wondering.
> > >
> > > No physical NIC is associate with the loopback address. It goes through
> > > a separate logical NIC named "lo", not the "eth0" or "wlan0" associated
> > > with your physical NIC.
> > >
> > > Side point - With Linux, when pinging the host's own IP address, even
> > > one that is associated with a physical NIC, the packets do not actually
> > > go though the NIC. The kernel is smart enough to realize that the IP
> > > address is it's own, and it shortcuts the packet's route.
> > >
> > > Terry
> >
> > I had to do an ifconfig  and actually look at lo, after you brought it
> > up, to see it......After ignoring it for years.....
> >
> >
> > I hate to ask but, is there something similar in Windows??
> >
> 
> All operating systems with a TCP/IP stack have some means to support
> the loopback IP address of 127.0.0.1 but they don't necessarily implement
> it the same way as in Linux. But in no case should it involve or require a
> physical NIC. That would be a bug.
> 
> Terry


Thanks

linux-yug




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