problem accessing local server by url

[allanhitch]

Originally Posted by jpollard

The problem is not DNS.

the problem is your /etc/hosts file.

There's nothing wrong with his "/etc/hosts" file. He's been trying to access the linux box from an XP workstation on the network. The issue is with his "c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts" file on the XP box(es).

The problem was that he was editing the hosts file on the linux box. That has no impact whatsoever on the other machines in the network.

Had me a tad confused for a while too....

-Al

[settingsun]

My understanding is the very first part of this process was to change the value for the hostname of the server by changing the value of the hostname variable in /etc/sysconfig/network


Doing that set the value of the first line in /etc/hosts.

pinging fred.mycoachdomain.com returned 72.215.225.9 Not in my network.



How do I get /etc/hosts to read the third line?


Thanks

[allanhitch]

Originally Posted by settingsun

My understanding is the very first part of this process was to change the value for the hostname of the server by changing the value of the hostname variable in /etc/sysconfig/network


Doing that set the value of the first line in /etc/hosts.

pinging fred.mycoachdomain.com returned 72.215.225.9 Not in my network.



How do I get /etc/hosts to read the third line?


Thanks

What machine are you on when you ping?

[settingsun]

I'm on windows xp when I ping.

[allanhitch]

Originally Posted by settingsun

I'm on windows xp when I ping.

Then THAT is the machine you need to be editing the hosts file on.

"/etc/hosts" is under Linux.

Stop messing with the server for now and concentrate on fixing that hosts file on the XP workstation you're trying to ping from. Until you get that to work, you don't even need a hosts file on the Linux box. In fact, all you're doing by playing with that file is chasing your tail. The hosts file on the Linux box has absolutely nothing to do with name resolution on the XP box. Just leave the server alone for now.

The full path to the file on XP is "c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts".

Log on to the XP machine as a user with administrator rights.
Go to the command-prompt on your XP machine.

type:
cd \windows\system32\drivers\etc

then remove any cumbersome attributes that may be present on the hosts file-
type:
attrib -r -h -s hosts

then type:
echo 192.168.0.2. fred.mycoachdomain.com >> hosts

then type:
ping fred.mycoachdomain.com

You should then get a reply from fred.mycoachdomain.com 192.168.0.2

[settingsun]

Funny the way things work sometimes. I asked about the third line in the /etc/hosts file because I thought the other person who chimed in on the conversation was steering me in another direction.


I read that post again and realized the solution still is the windows xp hosts file. Then your response confirmed it. Yes, doing anything else is chasing my tail.


Still, your last post helped a lot, because it gave more details. I got a good laugh out of my mistake. Sometimes the trick to staying in a tedious process is having a good laugh. I'll continue after a good nights sleep.

Thanks so much for your time, effort and interest in helping me. I really appreciate it. Have a great night.