How do I setup a HOSTS file on different operating systems?

Question

Please provide examples of how this can be setup on client and server versions of various operating systems.

I guess you need to add more information on what you are looking for, since setting up hosts file for any OS (windows or Linux) is pretty much the same, except or the path — Dinesh Manne, May 03 '09 at 18:56
This was something I was looking into at the time and figured it was good content to have on ServerFault.com. — Brian Lyttle, May 03 '09 at 19:58

score 12 · Accepted Answer · answered May 03 '09 at 19:00

12

Hosts file on Linux/Unix:

/etc/hosts

ip.nu.mb.er   name1 name2

Hosts file on Windows:

%WINDOWS%\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts (e.g. C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts)

ip.nu.mb.er   name1 name2

answered May 03 '09 at 19:00

chaos

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered May 03 '09 at 19:00

Assuming you're asking how to find the file (it will most likely exist already):

In a Unix-like operating system (including Mac OS X and Linux), you'll typically find the hosts file in /etc/hosts. Note that Mac OS X does not by default show you the etc directory. You can show it in various ways, such as by choosing Go → Go to Folder… in Finder, and typing /etc.
In an NT-based operating system (including Windows XP and Windows Vista), the etc directory is slightly hidden, in %WINDIR%\system32\drivers\, e.g. C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts.

2 Answers2