Topic: cannot ftp/telnet to a host name

[aussie]

My SME box has IP a.b.c.5
From my SME I can ftp a.b.c.1 or telnet to it but I cannot ftp rob or telnet rob
even though a.b.c.1 rob is a line in the /etc/hosts file.
I have also noticed (recently) that when I use my PC a.b.c.134 to ssh a.b.c.5 it takes about 9seconds to get a login (next to no LAN traffic).

Any ideas would be appreciated.
regards to all, Rob