firefox not able to find server if using fully qualified CNAME - works with short name

[paulp]

Binary package hint: firefox-3.5

If I type http://intranet, firefox resolves the CNAME using resolv.conf search path and displays the page from http://webserver1.domain.local

However, if I type http://intranet.domain.local firefox is unable to find the server.

I am able to resolve the short or long name via nslookup from a terminal window, so I don't think it is a DNS resolution problem.

This is also a problem when entering the name of the proxy server - short name version works but the fully qualified name (CNAME) doesn't. (Of course it also works if you specify the IP but there are obvious drawbacks to doing that)

the only string in the search path of /etc/resolv.conf is domain.local

Ubuntu version 9.10

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Wed Dec 9 09:28:22 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release i386 (20091028.5)
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: firefox-3.5 3.5.5+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.9.10.1
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_NZ.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-16.52-generic
SourcePackage: firefox-3.5
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-16-generic i686
XsessionErrors:
 (gnome-settings-daemon:2172): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_propagate_error: assertion `src != NULL' failed
 (gnome-settings-daemon:2172): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_propagate_error: assertion `src != NULL' failed
 (polkit-gnome-authentication-agent-1:2322): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_once_init_leave: assertion `initialization_value != 0' failed
 (nautilus:2312): Eel-CRITICAL **: eel_preferences_get_boolean: assertion `preferences_is_initialized ()' failed