/etc/gettable under Ultrix 1.2

[mohamed at hscfvax.UUCP]

Running /etc/gettable under Ultrix 1.2 produces the following in
the file hosts.txt:

	[No name] (all)		[No mailbox]

	   This is the NICNAME port.  You probably want the
	   HOSTNAME port, which understands the "ALL" command
	   to mean send back the current host table.

Since we have sources the fix was trivial.  My question is: How did
this problem arise?  Has the NIC changed something recently, or did
DEC goof?