topic Re: use /etc/hosts file instead DNS in Windows Server 2003

use /etc/hosts file instead DNS

amin Tabarak — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:13:17 GMT

Hi all,

I have a W2k3 boxe ,i want to use /etc/hosts instead DNS IE i want nslookup command point to /etc/hosts first to resolve the ip.is there a way to configure this

Thanks for your support,
Amine

Re: use /etc/hosts file instead DNS

WFHC-WI — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:09:44 GMT

hi amine,

You can set the default server for nslookup requests by entering:

NSLOOKUP
SERVER

In this case you want to use the local machine name.

good luck, if you appreciate the answers we appreciate the points :)

Re: use /etc/hosts file instead DNS

Rune J. Winje — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 05:37:16 GMT

Hi,
ref http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727005.aspx

The host name resolution process will first query the local DNS client cache. Then it will look in the Hosts file and lastly query DNS if none of the previous provided a name resolution.

So, the only thing you need to do to make W2K3 use the Hosts file is to enter hostnames and corresponding IP-addresses.

In case the local DNS cache has already resolved a name that you want it to look into the Hosts file for instead - you should do a "ipconfig /flushdns" command first. This will clear the local DNS client cache and therefore it will continue to check the Hosts file and secondly DNS.

Using "ipconfig /flushdns" is always a good idea when testing name resolution to not get fooled by results from the local cache.

Cheers,
Rune

Re: use /etc/hosts file instead DNS

Michal Kapalka (mikap) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 07:42:07 GMT

hi,

I have a W2k3 boxe ,i want to use /etc/hosts instead DNS IE i want nslookup command point to /etc/hosts first to resolve the ip.is there a way to configure this

/etc/hosts is in Unix / Linux enviroments, in the Windows the hosts file is located in :

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc

mikap

Re: use /etc/hosts file instead DNS

amin Tabarak — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:34:47 GMT

even with this command (flushdns), and /etc/hosts correctly field , i still have the problem.It seems that nslookup can't read from hosts file !

Re: use /etc/hosts file instead DNS

Anshumali — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 03:12:24 GMT

As Mikap said,
What OS you are actually using? /etc/hosts is *nix style local name lookup not Windows.
Would you mind putting an entry into C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc and test again?
Does ping from command prompt works at all. Post the nslookup output as well...

Re: use /etc/hosts file instead DNS

amin Tabarak — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 08:55:09 GMT

C:\Documents and Settings\>nslookup trafprod
Server: xxx.???.net.ma
Address: xx.xx.xx.xx

*** xxx.???.net.ma can't find tarfprod: Non-existent domain

C:\Documents and Settings\>

and my /etc/hosts has the fellowing entry with the correct ip and hostname
xx.xx.xx.xx tarfprod

Re: use /etc/hosts file instead DNS

amin Tabarak — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:21:07 GMT

OS is w2k3 ,and the ping works with both ip and hostname

Re: use /etc/hosts file instead DNS

WFHC-WI — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:25:34 GMT

Hi Amine,

Check the properties of your server's network connection:

Network Connection > Properties
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) > Properties
Advanced...
DNS tab

I think you want to set "Append these DNS suffixes (in order):"
Make sure the domain for trafprod is present in the list.