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MAC users: How to alter your HOSTS file (pre-OSX)
Apple Technical Support ^

Posted on 09/23/2001 8:20:45 AM PDT by SlickWillard

If you're using a Macintosh and you're having the same DNS problems that are plaguing everyone else, and if you want to hardwire the FreeRepublic address, read the following articles. It looks like your syntax will be

freerepublic.com       A       206.112.97.70
www.freerepublic.com       A       206.112.97.70
The sentence "When Open Transport TCP/IP is initialized, it reads the Hosts file (if any)" makes me think you might have to reboot to see the changes take effect.
Mac OS 8: Open Transport 1.2 Technical Information Read Me

Open Transport 2.0 Technical Information - Part 1


Local Hosts file support

Open Transport TCP/IP supports a Hosts file that may be used to supplement and/or customize the Domain Name Resolver's initial cache of information. The Hosts file is normally stored in the Preferences folder in the active System Folder. When Open Transport TCP/IP is initialized, it reads the Hosts file (if any). As in MacTCP, the supported Hosts file features follow a subset of the Domain Name System Master File Format (RFC 1035).

Open Transport TCP/IP is more stringent regarding the content and format of the Hosts file than was MacTCP, which permitted violation of the FQDN requirement for . For instance, the format:

charlie A 128.1.1.1
which was acceptable to the MacTCP DNR, is no longer permitted because of the use of domain search lists in Open Transport/TCP (charlie could potentially exist in any or all of the configured domains). To accomplish the same effect, use this format instead:
charlie CNAME myhost.mydomain.edu

myhost.mydomain.edu A 128.1.1.1

This associates the local alias charlie with the fully qualified domain name myhost.mydomain.edu, and resolves it to the address 128.1.1.1. Use of local aliases is limited to CNAME entries; NS and A entries must use fully qualified domain names.

You can create a Hosts file with any text editor or word processor (the Hosts file must be stored in text format). If you use a Hosts file, keep it as short as possible, and include only entries that will be accessed frequently. This reduces the memory required to cache the DNS information and minimizes the need to maintain and update Hosts files as system information changes.

Open Transport TCP/IP automatically uses a Hosts file stored in the Preferences folder of the active System Folder. If no Hosts file is found in the Preferences folder, Open Transport TCP/IP searches the active System Folder for a Hosts file. You can specify a particular Hosts file to use with a specific configuration. For example, one Hosts file might be set up for a user connecting via Ethernet, and another set up for when that user connects via modem.

For additional information about the Hosts file design of the Open Transport Domain Name Resolver, see the document Apple Open Transport Reference Q&A. The latest version of the Q&A is in the Open Transport Extras folder.


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
PS: A year or two from now, if JimRob changes the IP address of FreeRepublic, try to remember that you hardwired your HOSTS file a different IP address.
1 posted on 09/23/2001 8:20:45 AM PDT by SlickWillard
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To: SlickWillard
I'm on a Mac with OS 9, using Road Runner and I haven't had one bit of problem accessing FR via Netscape or IE.
2 posted on 09/23/2001 8:42:22 AM PDT by mass55th
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To: mass55th
Ditto here! Just breezing along.
3 posted on 09/23/2001 8:52:59 AM PDT by basil
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To: mass55th
Over at http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/freerepublic there are Mac users with problems.
4 posted on 09/23/2001 8:53:25 AM PDT by SlickWillard
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To: SlickWillard
No problem here with a Mac 630CD and Netscape 4.0, assuming this posts (?)
5 posted on 09/23/2001 9:33:23 AM PDT by secretagent
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To: SlickWillard, Mac Users
IT WORKED!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

6 posted on 09/23/2001 12:43:52 PM PDT by dighton
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To: Swordmaker
Ping!
7 posted on 01/12/2005 10:33:09 AM PST by SunkenCiv (the US population in the year 2100 will exceed a billion, perhaps even three billion.)
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To: SlickWillard

Slightly off topic. I am thinking about buying a new Mac. Does anyone know if the prices drop after the Mac Expo or during? Or do I need to wait a few months?

I have an older system running 10.2 and classic, and Free Republic loads just fine : )


8 posted on 01/12/2005 10:42:32 AM PST by LeGrande
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To: LeGrande; Swordmaker

just out:

Apple announces $499 Macintosh
AppleInsider ^ | January 11, 2005
Posted on 01/11/2005 10:49:21 AM PST by HAL9000
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1318559/posts


9 posted on 01/12/2005 11:05:03 AM PST by SunkenCiv (the US population in the year 2100 will exceed a billion, perhaps even three billion.)
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