mysql_install_db problem

[Bono, Saroj AA R62]

I'm on Linux and had to install the myself server since that didn't work
from the Linux install cd. When I run mysql_install_db I get "host name
lookup failure" . Please configure the hostname.....
However in my Linux hosts table I DO have the localhost address. and if
I do resolveip localhost from the command line I get back that address.
Please let me know what needs to be done to fix this. Thanks,
sb