I would like to know how I can configure my dns settings so that domain is resolved locally first, then if not resolved it goes to external DNS.

I had this working before, I am using Ubuntu through a VM and need the local domain to resolve first but since I have upgraded I had to reconfigure network and now it works only external, local host file does not seem to even be used.

Is there an easy way to check this out?

I did slap it up in google but no specific answer seemed to match my case and I too tight on delivery deadline to test-and-try different approaches.

You guys rock, thanks.