ubuntu can't ping .local domain

Reference: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1483219

Status:

ping -c 1 host.domain.local
ping: unknown host host.domain.local

Solution:
1. sudo vi /etc/nsswitch.conf
2. change this line hosts:          files mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] dns mdns4
                      => hosts:          files dns mdns4_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] mdns4