Here's a JeOS (based on 8.04 LTS) nsswitch.conf file (server is used for Zimbra OSE in a VM):
Code:
# /etc/nsswitch.conf
#
# Example configuration of GNU Name Service Switch functionality.
# If you have the `glibc-doc-reference' and `info' packages installed, try:
# `info libc "Name Service Switch"' for information about this file.
passwd: compat
group: compat
shadow: compat
hosts: files dns
networks: files
protocols: db files
services: db files
ethers: db files
rpc: db files
netgroup: nis
And here's an Ubuntu 8.04 LTS 64 bits one (server is the VM host):
Code:
# /etc/nsswitch.conf
#
# Example configuration of GNU Name Service Switch functionality.
# If you have the `glibc-doc-reference' and `info' packages installed, try:
# `info libc "Name Service Switch"' for information about this file.
passwd: compat
group: compat
shadow: compat
hosts: files dns
networks: files
protocols: db files
services: db files
ethers: db files
rpc: db files
netgroup: nis
Both servers were setup in the minimal way (no graphical interface, no LAMP, etc).
The difference with your server seems to be, as you suggested, mDNS/ZeroConf/Bonjour (that is not enabled on my servers as it's not needed).