How to Use a HOSTS File to Test a Site that Uses Host Headers on an Intranet

ID: Q228760

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Internet Information Server version 4.0

SUMMARY

This article describes how to use the HOSTS file to test a site that uses a host header name over an intranet.

CAUTION: Modifying the HOSTS file on your computer incorrectly can interfere with name resolution. Be sure to make a backup copy of the HOSTS file before modifying it. After testing that the new site that uses a host header name is working properly, you may want to return your HOSTS file back to its original form.

Also, if your intranet uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to dynamically assign IP address to computers, keep in mind that the IP addresses can change, and therefore the IP address referred to in your HOSTS file may eventually belong to another computer.
For information on how to use host header names on an IIS computer, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:
Q190008 Using Host Header Names to Host Multiple Sites from 1 IP Address


MORE INFORMATION

If the IIS computer that contains the site using the host header name is located on an intranet (a private LAN that uses Internet technology), that host header name must be first be registered with the intranet's name resolution system, such as the Windows Internet Name Service (WINS) before it can be browsed to.

In order to test the site immediately (without waiting for the intranet's administrator to update the name resolution system), modify the HOSTS file of the computer you plan to browse from.

Add Entry for Host Header Name Site to HOSTS File

On a local Windows NT computer, perform the following steps to update the HOSTS file, so that requests for the site using the host header name are routed to the correct IP address:
  1. At a command prompt, type PING IIS-ServerName, where "IIS-ServerName" is the name of the IIS computer that contains the site using the host header name.

    The reply from the PING command contains the IP address of the IIS computer. Record this IP address.


  2. On a local Windows NT computer, go to the %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc directory and open the HOSTS file in Notepad.


  3. On a blank line, type the IP address, followed by at least one space, and then the host header name of the site.


  4. Save the HOSTS file.

    NOTE: This file must be upper case, and should NOT have a file name extension. In other words, the file name should simply be HOSTS.



Test the HOSTS File

To make sure the HOSTS file is working properly, go to a command prompt, and type PING HostHeaderName, where "HostHeaderName" is the host header name used by the new site.

The reply should contain the same IP address that was returned earlier when Pinging the IIS computer.

Browse the Site Using the Host Header Name

If the PING was successful, indicating that the intranet is routing connections to the host header name to the IIS computer, use a Web browser to load the new site, using the host header name.

Additional query words: web ftp hostheader Domain Name Server DNS WINS

Keywords :
Version : winnt:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: August 16, 1999
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