system still hangs

[wiler at loa.com]

i have defined my machine in the hosts file as the following
ip hostname
i still get a hang when i try to connect via ftp.
i have left the 127.0.0.1 localhost the same
and put the ip with the hostname on a seperate line
when i connect with the machine directly on that machine that is
telnet ip right from the linux box, i get a really fast response.
yet, when i go to the machine right across the room, it takes a really long
time to respond or never does.