When shared libraries are installed, often the nameservice no longer 
works on previously working applications.  The solution is the addition 
of an /etc/nsswitch.conf file.  The following is (I believe) the 
important part:

hosts:      files nisplus nis dns

services:   nisplus [NOTFOUND=return] files
networks:   nisplus [NOTFOUND=return] files
protocols:  nisplus [NOTFOUND=return] files
rpc:        nisplus [NOTFOUND=return] files
ethers:     nisplus [NOTFOUND=return] files
netmasks:   nisplus [NOTFOUND=return] files     
bootparams: nisplus [NOTFOUND=return] files

Jayme Moore (moorejc@rosevc.rose-hulman.edu) 
(not from me originally, but I lost the original posting.)