if you want to be able to get to your unix box easily and have it's hostname set everytime ... set your unix box to use a static address instead of dhcp ...

after you get your pc to connect to the net without any problem ...

1. on your pc/laptop --- get the ip addresses of the dns servers as listed and write them down. use "ipconfig /all" in a command window

2. open the router configuration software and note the dhcp ip ranges. pick an ip that's outside of the dhcp range (or scope)

3. if your unix box has been running with dhcp already, run "sys-unconfig" as root on the command line. this will blank out your unix box so it doesn't know the network or it's name.

4. boot up the unix box and fix settings

a. when prompted to use dhcp ... say no.
b. put in the box's hostname and the ip address you selected
c. when prompted for method for name resolution, select DNS
d. give domain name of your isp when asked for dns domain
e. give dns server ip addresses that you got from your pc settings
f. set new root password as required
g. login and check /etc/hosts and other settings

5. reboot unix box to verify that settings stayed and you can get to the net


... btw, getting the box to use a reserved dhcp address will let it keep the assigned ip address like it's a static address but for some reason it won't let you set the desired hostname to the ip address ... even with editing /etc/hosts ... but this could just be a solaris 9 "feature" ...