diff --git a/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_config_parameter.py b/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_config_parameter.py
index b1688b9a669..f8c0348e8f6 100644
--- a/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_config_parameter.py
+++ b/openerp/addons/base/ir/ir_config_parameter.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class ir_config_parameter(osv.osv):
             if not ids:
                 self.set_param(cr, 1, key, func())
 
-    def get_param(self, cr, uid, key, context=None):
+    def get_param(self, cr, uid, key, default=False, context=None):
         """ Get the value of a parameter.
         
         @param key: The key of the parameter.
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class ir_config_parameter(osv.osv):
         """
         ids = self.search(cr, uid, [('key','=',key)], context=context)
         if not ids:
-            return False
+            return default
         param = self.browse(cr, uid, ids[0], context=context)
         value = param.value
         return value
diff --git a/openerp/tools/misc.py b/openerp/tools/misc.py
index dc66142fc4a..fd72728d3e8 100644
--- a/openerp/tools/misc.py
+++ b/openerp/tools/misc.py
@@ -248,6 +248,10 @@ def flatten(list):
             r.append(e)
     return r
 
+def get_hostname(obj, cr, uid):
+    return obj.pool.get('ir.config_parameter').get_param(cr, uid, 'network.hostname', default="localhost")
+    
+
 def reverse_enumerate(l):
     """Like enumerate but in the other sens