router and host file

degarb · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:58 pm Post subject: router and host file

I would like to use a host file, but I notice any computer using the router, doesn't use the host file.

Yes, I can block at router level or setting to opendns. But blocking a router, tell wife "your husband has blocked this site, now kill him." Blocking on opendns give about the same message and often google doesn't work with opendns, causing me to abandon them.

With a host file you can forward to some other site quietly.
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Thnx. But really, adulation isn't required.
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R-ights, I-nfrastructure, D-efense, S-afetynet 4 helpless: R.I.D.S--the limit of legislation. Not to grow, control, and maintain power.

digger · ๑۞๑ Joined: 29 Mar 2001 Posts: 2483

I can't think of any reason why one would depend on the other. Are you sure there isn't something else going on?

degarb · Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:02 am Post subject: Re: router and host file

The only way I can think to trouble shoot, is change an entry in host file and see if page pull that ip. Obviously, it doesn't, as I lamented. Idea of another test?
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Thnx. But really, adulation isn't required.
.
R-ights, I-nfrastructure, D-efense, S-afetynet 4 helpless: R.I.D.S--the limit of legislation. Not to grow, control, and maintain power.

digger · ๑۞๑ Joined: 29 Mar 2001 Posts: 2483

Make sure you are testing with a host name that really exists, and use something like ping rather than a browser to hit the address, to make sure there aren't any proxy settings interfering with the test.

Did you verify that the same hosts file modification works when you are not using the router?

In older versions of windows (pre win2k) there are settings to change the priority of DNS vs the hosts file. A reversed DNS/hosts priority could have this effect under some specific circumstances, for example if you use a non-existent hostname to test the hosts file and your router and non-router connections use different dns servers.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/139270/EN-US/

There also may be registry settings that change the location where windows looks for the hosts file, but this shouldn't vary depending on whether you are using the router.

This is interesting article, mostly covering Win2k and later:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727005.aspx#ECAA
You could check if ipconfig /displaydns and ipconfig /flushdns work as expected.