getnameinfo failed

[Don Cohen]

I'm running openssh-2.3.0p1 in linux.
 scp -P 2222 -v user at 207.224.119.73:openssh-2.3.0p1.tar /tmp/junk
gives me
 Executing: program /usr/local/bin/ssh host 207.224.119.73, user user,
 command scp -v -f openssh-2.3.0p1.tar
 ssh_connect: getnameinfo failed
I get that 3 times and then it gives up.
I've changed ssh_connect as follows:
	if (getnameinfo(ai->ai_addr,ai->ai_addrlen,
	    ntop, sizeof(ntop), strport,sizeof(strport),
	    NI_NUMERICHOST|NI_NUMERICSERV) != 0) {
		 error("ssh_connect: getnameinfo failed");
*** commented out next line
		  continue; 
and now after the getnameinfo failed message it continues ...

 The authenticity of host '207.224.119.73' can't be established.
and then everything works.
I'm trying to understand what that getnameinfo is meant to accomplish.
Is there any problem with removing it?
Does it have anything to do with this authenticity check and
how is authenticity supposed to be established?


Thanks.