# HOSTS file on the LAN

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosts-file-on-the-lan/284091
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 10, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosts-file-on-the-lan/284091 "2005-01-10T20:35:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2005, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosts-file-on-the-lan/284091/1 "2005-01-10T20:35:26Z")

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To reach a particular server on the local area network, I’ve configured HOSTS on user desktops:

xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx mail

The user types mail in the address for IE and goes to the server that handles GroupWise.

Works in Win XP, but not always in Win 98. Any ideas?  
Thanks

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### Author: ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hosts-file-on-the-lan/284091/2 "2005-01-10T20:45:50Z")

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No solid answer, but some things to try:

restart networking?  
rebooting?  
try lmhosts instead