3749651 - SM59 ABAP destination fails with "hostname ... unknown"

While performing a "connection test" in an ABAP destination (type 3), at the transaction SM59, the test fails with a message similar to the one below:

Connection Error
Error when opening an RFC connection (CPIC-CALL: 'ThSAPOCMINIT', communication rc: CM_RESOURCE_FAILURE_NO_RETRY (cmRc).
ERROR: hostname '?' unknown
LOCATION: SAP-Gateway on host [hostname] / sapgwXX
DETAIL: NiErrSet
COMPONENT: NI (network interface)
COUNTER: 38915
MODULE:
LINE:
RETURN CODE: -2
SUBRC: 0
RELEASE: 793
TIME: [date and time]
VERSION: 40

The RFC Gateway trace file (dev_rd) logs the following entries:

[date and time]
NiHLGetNodeAddr: to get address for '[hostname]' failed in 24012ms (tl=2000ms; MT; UC)
*** ERROR => NiHLGetNodeAddr: NiPGetHostByName([hostname]) failed (rc=-1) [nixxhl.cpp   329]
*** ERROR => GwIAsyncConn: GwConnect to [hostname] / 33XX failed (rc=NIEHOST_UNKNOWN) [gwr3cpic.c   9529]
***LOG S0T=> GwIAsyncConn, GwConnect (-0002) [gwr3cpic.c   9536]
***LOG S0R=> GwIAsyncConn, GwConnect () [gwr3cpic.c   9538]
***LOG S0S=> GwIAsyncConn, GwConnect ( 33XX) [gwr3cpic.c   9539]
*****************************************************************************
*
*  LOCATION    SAP-Gateway on host [hostname] / sapgwXX
*  ERROR       hostname '?' unknown
*
*  TIME        [date and time]
*  RELEASE     793
*  COMPONENT   NI (network interface)
*  VERSION     40
*  RC          -2
*  DETAIL      NiErrSet
*  COUNTER     38915
*
*****************************************************************************

• ABAP Platform based product
• SAP NetWeaver ABAP based product

NiPGetHostByName, failed, NIEHOST_UNKNOWN, hostname unknown, host unknown , KBA , BC-CST-GW , Gateway/CPIC , BC-NET , Obsolete - Formerly used for network tests , BC-CST , Client/Server Technology , BC-MID-RFC , RFC , Problem