Re: Difference between dummy and loopback interfaces

[John Bradford]

> > I can't think of a condition where a dummy device is useful (other than
> > for simulating a blackhole device which sucks every packet sent to it).
> 
> The dummy device is conventionally used to provide a separate interface
> that can be used to bind the hostname to when there is no real nic in
> the box to bind it to (binding it to loopback being a no no).

Slackware binds the hostname to 127.0.0.1 by default.  As pointed out
in comments in the /etc/hosts file, it is technically incorrect, but
it does work, and it's fine on a non-networked machine.

John.