[SOLVED] How to specify directories in /etc/hosts(?)

**supergrover1981** · January 11th, 2009

Hi gang,

I'm trying to locally test a site that uses $_SERVER["SERVER_NAME"] to interpret which information to send. I didn't write the site, but I need to make some simple tweaks to the CSS.

I've been told to use Linux's /etc/hosts file redirect www.websitename to localhost. The problem is, I can't afford to store the site at http://localhost/ or http://127.0.0.1/ - there are a bunch of other sites I need quick access to. When I try to add

http://127.0.0.1/websitename www.websitename.com

to my etc/hosts file, it seems to ignore the line.

Any suggestions? Is there a way to specify directories in /etc/hosts, or any other way to solve this problem?

Ubuntu 8.10, Apache 2.2

Any suggestions most appreciated.

Cheers,
- SuperGrover

**capscrew** · January 11th, 2009

The /etc/hosts file is for mapping hostname to IP address only.

**cariboo** · January 11th, 2009

If you don't have the sapce to store the web site in /var/www, for testing purposes place the site in a directory and use a symlink to link it to /var/www eg:

Code:

sudo ln -s /home/<user>/website /var/www/website

You can then access the site by entering:

Code:

http://localhost/website

in Firefox's address bar.

Jim

**KeyserSoze93** · January 11th, 2009

The best solution would be the set up Apache to serve this second site from a different IP...

To give you computer a second IP, run:

Code:

sudo ifconfig eth0:1 0.0.0.0

, where 0.0.0.0 is the new IP you want (maybe one above your current?)

Then configure apache with a virtual host (so your current site is served from your normal IP, and your second site is served from the new IP). See: http://httpd.apache.org/docs/1.3/vhosts/ip-based.html

Finally, set up /etc/hosts to redirect to your other virtual host, IE

Code:

0.0.0.0 websitename.com

, where 0.0.0.0 is the second IP you set up.

Virtual hosts in apache sound complicated but it's very easy once you get the idea. Just remember you will need to run the ifconfig command every time you reboot (or add it to /etc/rc.local), if you want your second IP.