Using HOSTS file To Resolve Local Host Names

Every computer in your LAN must have an unique host name and each host name must have an unique IP address. There is an one-to-one mapping between the host name and its IP address. If you are not using a DHCP server to generate such a mapping (dynamic mapping), you might want to create or edit the “HOSTS” file under the Windows directory in your gateway computer (running ComSocks) and list all your local host names there (static mapping). The reason for doing this is that ComSocks will try to use this file to resolve the local hostname to its IP address when a client requests the hostname->IP translation. If the hostname is not listed in this file, ComSocks will use NetBIOS broadcasting to find the mapping. In turn, it will be a slow process.

Please select FILE->Open HOSTS File in the menu bar of ComSocks to complete this task. The following example shows what the file looks like:

########################

# This is a sample HOSTS file

# You can use HOSTS.SAM

# file as an example if you find

# it.

########################

127.0.0.1 localhost

192.168.0.1 gateway

192.168.0.2 pioneer

192.168.0.3 bigapple

192.168.0.4 bluechip

If you forget to do so, ComSocks will not resolve your local host names to their IP addresses unless you have another DNS server to resolve them. If you enable the Activity Window or Logging, you will experience a DNS time out for the local hosts and ComSocks will be slowed down.