Error in sudo command

[Ninad Bapat]

Hi
   
   i installed ubuntu 4.10 on my brand new Pc w/o any problems.After I
logged into gnome I opended a terminal and typed
sudo pppconfig
This gave me a message
"unable to find ubuntu via gethostbyname()"

subsequently it asks for password. If i give my user password it works
correctly.

Why does this error message displayed

Thanks 
ninad