Everything You Need to Know About Server 2012 Host File Location

Greetings Dev, welcome to this journal article that will provide you with all the information you need to know about Server 2012 Host File Location. In this article, we’ll cover everything from what a host file is, its importance, and where to find it on Server 2012. Let’s dive in!

What is a Host File?

A host file is a simple text file that contains the IP addresses and hostnames of websites or computers. It is used by the operating system to resolve domain names to IP addresses. This process is known as name resolution. The host file acts as a local DNS server, allowing the computer to bypass the often slow and unreliable internet DNS system.

In general, a host file is used to block websites, redirect traffic, or test local web development. These files can be edited to change the IP address of a website, redirect traffic from one domain to another, or block specific websites entirely.

How Does a Host File Work?

When a computer attempts to access a website, it first checks if the IP address of the website is stored in the host file. If it is, the computer uses that IP address to connect to the website. If not, the computer sends a request to a DNS server to resolve the domain name to an IP address.

However, if the website is blocked or redirected in the host file, the computer will never resolve the IP address and will instead return an error message.

Why is a Host File Important?

A host file can provide several benefits:

• It can speed up internet browsing by bypassing the unreliable DNS system.
• It can block websites that contain malware or are known to be harmful to a computer.
• It can redirect traffic from one domain to another, allowing for more precise control over network traffic.
• It can be used to test local web development before pushing changes to a live server.

Where Can I Find the Host File on Server 2012?

The host file on Server 2012 can be found at the following location:

Operating System	Host File Location
Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008	C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
Windows Server 2012 / Windows 8	C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
Windows 10	C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

To edit the host file on Server 2012, you will need to have administrative privileges. To do so:

1. Open Notepad with administrator privileges by right-clicking on the Notepad icon and selecting “Run as administrator.”
2. Select “File” > “Open” and navigate to the location of the host file.
3. Select “All Files” in the “File Type” dropdown and select the “hosts” file.
4. Make the necessary changes to the file and save the changes.

FAQs

Can I delete the host file?

No, you should not delete the host file. Doing so can cause issues with your computer’s name resolution and can make it difficult to navigate the internet.

How do I reset the host file?

To reset the host file on Server 2012:

1. Open Command Prompt with administrative privileges by right-clicking on the Command Prompt icon and selecting “Run as administrator.”
2. Type “ipconfig /flushdns” and press enter.
3. Type “netsh winsock reset” and press enter.
4. Restart your computer.

Can I block websites using the host file?

Yes, you can block websites using the host file. Find the IP address of the website you want to block using a tool like nslookup and add it to the host file with the domain name you want to block.

Can I redirect traffic using the host file?

Yes, you can redirect traffic using the host file. Add the IP address of the domain you want to redirect to the host file with the domain name you want to redirect from.

Can I use wildcards in the host file?

Yes, you can use wildcards in the host file to block or redirect multiple subdomains or domain names at once. For example, adding “127.0.0.1 *.example.com” will block all subdomains of example.com.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the host file is an essential file on Server 2012 that can provide several benefits, including speeding up internet browsing, blocking harmful websites, redirecting traffic, and testing local web development. It can be found at the location “C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts” and can be edited using Notepad with administrative privileges. We hope this article has been helpful in providing you with all the necessary information about the host file on Server 2012.