can't ping localhost

[Tim Kellers]

I first noticed the problem when the machine stopped sending local mail; 
a typical entry:

Aug 19 10:08:30 online sm-msp-queue[68533]: o7IKAhth008649: 
to=timothyk at xxx.njit.edu, ctladdr=timothyk (1001/1001), delay=17:57:47, 
xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=relay, pri=3360050, relay=[127.0.0.1], 
dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Can't assign requested address

Non-local mail still works:

Aug 19 10:14:11 online sm-mta[68582]: o7JEEB8I068582: 
from=<kellers at njit.edu>, size=593, class=0, nrcpts=1, 
msgid=<4C6D3C2E.1060407 at njit.edu>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=IPv4, 
relay=mail-xxx.njit.edu [128.235.251.157]
Aug 19 10:14:11 online sm-mta[68584]: o7JEEB8I068582: 
to=<timothyk at xxx.njit.edu>, delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, 
mailer=local, pri=30840, relay=local, dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent

When I ping localhost:
# ping localhost
PING localhost (127.0.0.1): 56 data bytes
ping: sendto: Can't assign requested address
ping: sendto: Can't assign requested address
ping: sendto: Can't assign requested address

# uname -a
FreeBSD xxx.njit.edu 7.3-STABLE FreeBSD 7.3-STABLE #0: Tue Mar 30 
14:35:56 EDT 2010     
timothyk at xxx.njit.edu:/usr/obj/usr/src/sys/MARCH31  i386



/etc/hosts, /etc/hosts.conf, /etc/resolv.conf all look fine.  I diffed 
them with another working 7.3-STABLE machine I have.

I have built world and kernel to yesterday's 7.3-STABLE, but I haven't 
rebooted the machine.  I'm thinking that if this is a hardware problem, 
once it goes down for a reboot, it may not come back up.

I'm eagerly open to suggestions.


Tim Kellers
NJIT