Host File Lab

In this lab we created a host file mapping Blackboard to the IP address 10.10.1.81.

To get to the mapping file you have to access the C:\ then the windows folder, then the system32 folder, then the drivers folder, then the etc folder. Open the host file in notepad. This will give you the following window

Go to the last line and type the address under to other addresses then tab over and enter the name you want to associate with the IP address. In our case we entered 10.10.1.81, which is Blackboards IP address, then I entered blackboard for the name. Now when I enter blackboard in the address bar is opens blackboard without having to remember the IP address. This is very useful in remembering websites. It is easier to associate a name with a site than to remember the IP address. Host file mapping can not only help you out when you have a lot of IP addresses to remember, but you can also limit the sites that can be accessed. Disable the DNS and then this will allow access only to the sites that are in the permit area. If you have sites that you access a lot. Enter there IP address in the host file and then when you access them it will save time because your browser will save the time it takes to look through the external DNS resolution and log directly on the site. You can also block junk sites by listing them in the host file and putting the local IP address in front of their address name. This was a short but very interesting lab, full of useful information.