HOST File

[Fred Zeigler]

Located in C\windows\system32\drivers\etc is a HOST file
can anyone tell me:
1. what it does?
2. what happens if it is removed?

[Marc Reynolds [MSFT]]

Hi Fred,

The HOSTS file is used when you do something with the TCP/IP
utilities, such as PING, FTP, and TELNET. You can find the HOSTS file
in the winnt\system32\drivers\etc directory. The format of the file is
the following:



IP Address Friendly Name

130.25.25.87 jsmith_nt # Remarks are denoted with a #.



With an entry like this in the HOSTS file, you could PING jsmith
instead of typing out the whole IP address (ping 130.25.25.87). This
file is NOT dynamic, so you need to add entries manually.

The HOSTS file will be searched for a host name first and if there is no
matching record, DNS will be used.

Thanks,
Marc Reynolds
Microsoft Technical Support

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

[Rob Schneider]

Fred Zeigler wrote:

> Located in C\windows\system32\drivers\etc is a HOST file
> can anyone tell me:
> 1. what it does?
> 2. what happens if it is removed?
>

Fred,

Others have provided guidance. I'm wondering if there is a particular
reason you are worried about this file?

[Ken Blake]

In ,
Fred Zeigler > typed:

> Located in C\windows\system32\drivers\etc is a HOST file
> can anyone tell me:
> 1. what it does?
> 2. what happens if it is removed?


The real address of a web site is not the URL, like
www.aumha.org, which many people think it is, but an IP address
like 66.39.115.252. When you type a URL, it has to be translated
into an IP address, and that usually happens by going to an
external DNS server, normally provided by your IP. The URL is
looked up, the IP address is provided, and only then can your
browser get to the web site.

The hosts file shortcuts that process. It's sort of like a local
DNS server, where the URL can be looked up and the IP address
provided. So when the URL is found there, it saves the time for
DNS lookup that would otherwise be needed.

If you remove it, it will be rebuilt. The only penalty is the
extra time for DNS lookup.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

[Sir_George]

Rob,

It didn't appear to me that the OP was worried, just curious.

--
Sir_George
For better access to newsgroups;
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp


"Rob Schneider" et> wrote
in message ...
> Fred Zeigler wrote:
>
> > Located in C\windows\system32\drivers\etc is a HOST file
> > can anyone tell me:
> > 1. what it does?
> > 2. what happens if it is removed?
> >
>
> Fred,
>
> Others have provided guidance. I'm wondering if there is a particular
> reason you are worried about this file?
>

[billn]

"Ken Blake" ------>
> Fred Zeigler --->
>
> > Located in C\windows\system32\drivers\etc is a HOST file
> > can anyone tell me:
> > 1. what it does?
> > 2. what happens if it is removed?
>
>
> The real address of a web site is not the URL, like
> www.aumha.org, which many people think it is, but an IP address
> like 66.39.115.252. When you type a URL, it has to be translated
> into an IP address, and that usually happens by going to an
> external DNS server, normally provided by your IP. The URL is
> looked up, the IP address is provided, and only then can your
> browser get to the web site.
>
> The hosts file shortcuts that process. It's sort of like a local
> DNS server, where the URL can be looked up and the IP address
> provided. So when the URL is found there, it saves the time for
> DNS lookup that would otherwise be needed.
>
> If you remove it, it will be rebuilt. The only penalty is the
> extra time for DNS lookup.

So to take this a step further...

Some people like to fill up their HOSTS file with 30,000 entries that direct
back to their own computer so they don't have to look at advertising and
slowing down the computer. BUT -- would the opposite be true -- putting in
the IP addresses of the web sites you visit on a regular basis. Would this
speed up the browser?

bill n

[Ken Blake]

In ,
billn > typed:
> "Ken Blake" ------>
>> Fred Zeigler --->
>>
>> > Located in C\windows\system32\drivers\etc is a HOST file
>> > can anyone tell me:
>> > 1. what it does?
>> > 2. what happens if it is removed?
>>
>>
>> The real address of a web site is not the URL, like
>> www.aumha.org, which many people think it is, but an IP
address
>> like 66.39.115.252. When you type a URL, it has to be
translated
>> into an IP address, and that usually happens by going to an
>> external DNS server, normally provided by your IP. The URL is
>> looked up, the IP address is provided, and only then can your
>> browser get to the web site.
>>
>> The hosts file shortcuts that process. It's sort of like a
local
>> DNS server, where the URL can be looked up and the IP address
>> provided. So when the URL is found there, it saves the time
for
>> DNS lookup that would otherwise be needed.
>>
>> If you remove it, it will be rebuilt. The only penalty is the
>> extra time for DNS lookup.
>
> So to take this a step further...
>
> Some people like to fill up their HOSTS file with 30,000
entries that
> direct back to their own computer so they don't have to look at
> advertising and slowing down the computer. BUT -- would the
opposite
> be true -- putting in the IP addresses of the web sites you
visit on
> a regular basis. Would this speed up the browser?


Yes. As I said above, that's the primary use of the file.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

[mikey]

here is an excellent place for information on Host file
also you can download a Host file that will stop a lot of ads while browsing.

http://www.smartin-designs.com/







"Fred Zeigler" > wrote in message ...
Located in C\windows\system32\drivers\etc is a HOST file
can anyone tell me:
1. what it does?
2. what happens if it is removed?



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.520 / Virus Database: 318 - Release Date: 9/18/2003

[billn]

"Ken Blake" ----->
> billn ---->
> > "Ken Blake" ------>
> >> Fred Zeigler --->
> >>
> >> > Located in C\windows\system32\drivers\etc is a HOST file
> >> > can anyone tell me:
> >> > 1. what it does?
> >> > 2. what happens if it is removed?
> >>
> >>
> >> The real address of a web site is not the URL, like
> >> www.aumha.org, which many people think it is, but an IP
> address
> >> like 66.39.115.252. When you type a URL, it has to be
> translated
> >> into an IP address, and that usually happens by going to an
> >> external DNS server, normally provided by your IP. The URL is
> >> looked up, the IP address is provided, and only then can your
> >> browser get to the web site.
> >>
> >> The hosts file shortcuts that process. It's sort of like a
> local
> >> DNS server, where the URL can be looked up and the IP address
> >> provided. So when the URL is found there, it saves the time
> for
> >> DNS lookup that would otherwise be needed.
> >>
> >> If you remove it, it will be rebuilt. The only penalty is the
> >> extra time for DNS lookup.
> >
> >
> > So to take this a step further...
> >
> > Some people like to fill up their HOSTS file with 30,000
> entries that
> > direct back to their own computer so they don't have to look at
> > advertising and slowing down the computer. BUT -- would the
> opposite
> > be true -- putting in the IP addresses of the web sites you
> visit on
> > a regular basis. Would this speed up the browser?
>
>
> Yes. As I said above, that's the primary use of the file.
>
>
One more question if I could.

How does one find the IP address of a website?

Thanks --bill n

[Rob Schneider]

billn wrote:

> "Ken Blake" ----->
>
>> billn ---->
>>
>>>"Ken Blake" ------>
>>>
>>>>Fred Zeigler --->
>>>>
>>>>>Located in C\windows\system32\drivers\etc is a HOST file
>>>>>can anyone tell me:
>>>>> 1. what it does?
>>>>> 2. what happens if it is removed?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>The real address of a web site is not the URL, like
>>>>www.aumha.org, which many people think it is, but an IP
>>
>>address
>>
>>>>like 66.39.115.252. When you type a URL, it has to be
>>
>>translated
>>
>>>>into an IP address, and that usually happens by going to an
>>>>external DNS server, normally provided by your IP. The URL is
>>>>looked up, the IP address is provided, and only then can your
>>>>browser get to the web site.
>>>>
>>>>The hosts file shortcuts that process. It's sort of like a
>>
>>local
>>
>>>>DNS server, where the URL can be looked up and the IP address
>>>>provided. So when the URL is found there, it saves the time
>>
>>for
>>
>>>>DNS lookup that would otherwise be needed.
>>>>
>>>>If you remove it, it will be rebuilt. The only penalty is the
>>>>extra time for DNS lookup.
>>>
>>>
>>>So to take this a step further...
>>>
>>>Some people like to fill up their HOSTS file with 30,000
>>
>>entries that
>>
>>>direct back to their own computer so they don't have to look at
>>>advertising and slowing down the computer. BUT -- would the
>>
>>opposite
>>
>>>be true -- putting in the IP addresses of the web sites you
>>
>>visit on
>>
>>>a regular basis. Would this speed up the browser?
>>
>>
>>Yes. As I said above, that's the primary use of the file.
>>
>>
>
> One more question if I could.
>
> How does one find the IP address of a website?
>
> Thanks --bill n
>
>

The easiesy way is to go to a command prompt in XP, and use the "ping"
command, e.g. here is my ping to yahoo where it replied from 216.109.118.66


c:\>ping www.yahoo.com

Pinging www.yahoo.akadns.net [216.109.118.66] with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 216.109.118.66: bytes=32 time=98ms TTL=55
Reply from 216.109.118.66: bytes=32 time=99ms TTL=55
Reply from 216.109.118.66: bytes=32 time=102ms TTL=55
Reply from 216.109.118.66: bytes=32 time=100ms TTL=55

Ping statistics for 216.109.118.66:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 98ms, Maximum = 102ms, Average = 99ms

[F. Edwin Felty]

Actually, Steve Martin stopped maintaining the hosts files last summer.
Gorilla has it now.

http://accs-net.com/hosts/

Eddie in Colorado Springs



"Does the Little Mermaid wear an algebra?"


"mikey" > wrote in message
...
here is an excellent place for information on Host file
also you can download a Host file that will stop a lot of ads while
browsing.

http://www.smartin-designs.com/



"Fred Zeigler" > wrote in message
...
Located in C\windows\system32\drivers\etc is a HOST file
can anyone tell me:
1. what it does?
2. what happens if it is removed?



---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.520 / Virus Database: 318 - Release Date: 9/18/2003

[Max Burke]

> Ken Blake scribbled:

>> billn > typed:

> The hosts file shortcuts that process. It's sort of like a local
> DNS server, where the URL can be looked up and the IP address
> provided. So when the URL is found there, it saves the time for
> DNS lookup that would otherwise be needed.
> If you remove it, it will be rebuilt. The only penalty is the
> extra time for DNS lookup.

>> So to take this a step further...
>> Some people like to fill up their HOSTS file with 30,000 entries that
>> direct back to their own computer so they don't have to look at
>> advertising and slowing down the computer. BUT -- would the opposite
>> be true -- putting in the IP addresses of the web sites you visit on
>> a regular basis. Would this speed up the browser?

> Yes. As I said above, that's the primary use of the file.

The downside being that the user is then responsible for keeping the
hosts file urls up to date. Once the hosts file urls become invalid it's
back to accessing an external DNS for the valid address....

Which is why I dont use the hosts file to block urls or speed up url
access....

--�

Replace the obvious with paradise to email me.
See Found Images at:
http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/~mlvburke/