[zeugma]

I finally figured it out. The resolv.conf file was missing, so the client couldn't find its servers. The solution didn't immediately jump out at me, because I was logged into the laptop remotely (via ssh). So, I knew the networking was up, but didn't think about checking name resolution until I'd beat my head against the wall for a while.

[Paladin2]

I don't have any *nix computers running FAH - they are even slower machines than the ones that are running FAH.

"The resolv.conf file resides in the /etc directory and contains the IPs of domain name servers that you will probably need if you are going to do anything on the internet! You can think of a domain name server as a hugh [sic!] automated phone book which gives you back a number (an IP) when you send it a name." - 'splains everything