Difference between revisions of "Hosts file"
m (moved Host File to Hosts File) |
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| − | A '''''hosts file''''' is a simple text file used by | + | A '''''hosts file''''' is a simple text file used by a computer to cross-reference an IP address with a URL ''before'' attempting to connect to a DNS server. |
| − | They exist on most operating systems with the same | + | They exist on most operating systems with the same two fields separated by whitespace, first the IP address, then the replacement URL. For example: |
74.125.225.66 google.com | 74.125.225.66 google.com | ||
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* Direct a URL to an IP address when you don't have access to a DNS server | * Direct a URL to an IP address when you don't have access to a DNS server | ||
| − | * Reroute | + | * Reroute URLs to an IP address different from your DNS server. |
* Block access to a particular URL. | * Block access to a particular URL. | ||
| Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
Here are examples of each of the following uses: | Here are examples of each of the following uses: | ||
| − | The following entry will direct thisurldoesnotexist.com (which doesn't exist) to | + | The following entry will direct someone trying to get to thisurldoesnotexist.com (which doesn't exist) to Google's IP address, 172.217.6.110. |
| − | + | 172.217.6.110 thisurldoesnotexist.com | |
| − | The following entry will redirect all traffic intended to go to facebook.com to | + | The following entry will redirect all traffic intended to go to facebook.com to the IP address 104.16.77.187, which is the FBI's web site. |
| − | + | 104.16.77.187 facebook.com | |
The following entry will block all traffic to facebook.com by rerouting it to the local computer. | The following entry will block all traffic to facebook.com by rerouting it to the local computer. | ||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
The file is located in different locations for different operating systems. | The file is located in different locations for different operating systems. | ||
| − | {| | + | {| class="wikitable" | |
| + | ! Operating System | ||
| + | ! Path | ||
| + | |- | ||
| '''Windows XP/Vista/7''' | | '''Windows XP/Vista/7''' | ||
| \windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts | | \windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts | ||
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| /etc/hosts | | /etc/hosts | ||
|} | |} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Links== | ||
| + | * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_(file) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_(file)] - Wikipedia. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | [[Category: Tech Guides]] | ||
Revision as of 16:21, 1 August 2017
A hosts file is a simple text file used by a computer to cross-reference an IP address with a URL before attempting to connect to a DNS server.
They exist on most operating systems with the same two fields separated by whitespace, first the IP address, then the replacement URL. For example:
74.125.225.66 google.com
Contents
Uses
The hosts file has many uses including:
- Direct a URL to an IP address when you don't have access to a DNS server
- Reroute URLs to an IP address different from your DNS server.
- Block access to a particular URL.
Examples
Here are examples of each of the following uses:
The following entry will direct someone trying to get to thisurldoesnotexist.com (which doesn't exist) to Google's IP address, 172.217.6.110.
172.217.6.110 thisurldoesnotexist.com
The following entry will redirect all traffic intended to go to facebook.com to the IP address 104.16.77.187, which is the FBI's web site.
104.16.77.187 facebook.com
The following entry will block all traffic to facebook.com by rerouting it to the local computer.
127.0.0.1 facebook.com
Locations
The file is located in different locations for different operating systems.
| Operating System | Path |
|---|---|
| Windows XP/Vista/7 | \windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts |
| Linux | /etc/hosts |
| OS X | /etc/hosts |
Links
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosts_(file) - Wikipedia.
