<para>
If a host name is specified (anything that is not an IP address
- or a special key word is processed as a potential host name),
+ or a special key word is treated as a host name),
that name is compared with the result of a reverse name
resolution of the client's IP address (e.g., reverse DNS
lookup, if DNS is used). Host name comparisons are case
the client's host name instead of the IP address in the log.
</para>
+ <para>
+ This field only applies to <literal>host</literal>,
+ <literal>hostssl</literal>, and <literal>hostnossl</> records.
+ </para>
+
<sidebar>
<para>
- Occasionally, users have wondered why host names are handled
- in this seemingly complicated way with two name resolutions
- and requiring reverse lookup of IP addresses, which is
- sometimes not set up or points to some undesirable host name.
- It is primarily for efficiency: A connection attempt requires
- two resolver lookups of the current client's address. If
- there is resolver problem with that address, it becomes only
+ Users sometimes wonder why host names are handled
+ in this seemingly complicated way, with two name resolutions
+ including a reverse lookup of the client's IP address. This
+ complicates use of the feature in case the client's reverse DNS
+ entry is not set up or yields some undesirable host name.
+ It is done primarily for efficiency: this way, a connection attempt
+ requires at most two resolver lookups, one reverse and one forward.
+ If there is a resolver problem with some address, it becomes only
that client's problem. A hypothetical alternative
- implementation which only does forward lookups would have to
+ implementation that only did forward lookups would have to
resolve every host name mentioned in
- <filename>pg_hba.conf</filename> at every connection attempt.
- That would already be slow by itself. And if there is a
- resolver problem with one of the host names, it becomes
- everyone's problem.
+ <filename>pg_hba.conf</filename> during every connection attempt.
+ That could be quite slow if many names are listed.
+ And if there is a resolver problem with one of the host names,
+ it becomes everyone's problem.
</para>
<para>
Apache HTTP Server and TCP Wrappers.
</para>
</sidebar>
-
- <para>
- This field only applies to <literal>host</literal>,
- <literal>hostssl</literal>, and <literal>hostnossl</> records.
- </para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>