Basic use of HostAdmin plugin for web browser is to make editing of the hosts file on your pc easier.
The hosts file has priority over DNS when it comes to resolving domains to IP address and with its help you can adjust it in a way that a certain website (or websites) opens IP address that you specify, instead of address that you get over DNS. Of course, the basic precondition for this is that on the IP address that you did write into your host file exists a website you can reach.
In this tutorial we will show you how to install the HostAdmin plugin and with its help access web sites on an IP address that currently is not the "official" address of the website that you can get through DNS.
Install the plugin on your web browser:
The hosts file has priority over DNS when it comes to resolving domains to IP address and with its help you can adjust it in a way that a certain website (or websites) opens IP address that you specify, instead of address that you get over DNS. Of course, the basic precondition for this is that on the IP address that you did write into your host file exists a website you can reach.
In this tutorial we will show you how to install the HostAdmin plugin and with its help access web sites on an IP address that currently is not the "official" address of the website that you can get through DNS.
Install the plugin on your web browser:
- for Mozilla Firefox on this link.
- for Chrome on this link.
Our suggestion is to use Firefox, since sometimes this plugin doesn't work on older versions of the Chrome browser. Also, Mozilla is easier to use.
Installation for Mozilla Firefox:
Click on add to Firefox.
Then window will appear for installation, click install.
After that you will need to allow rights for editing the hosts file, as it will be explained in the next part of this tutorial.
Installation for Chrome:
Click on add to Chrome.
New a dialogue window will open, then click Add app.
After that you will need to allow rights for editing the hosts file, as it will be explained in the next part of this tutorial.
Open My Computer, then open partition where you have Windows installed ( in most cases it will be Local Disk (C:) ).
On disk open the following path: Local Disk (C:) > Windows > System32 > drivers > etc
After that, click on hosts file with the right click, then open Properties window.
Click on Security, chose Users and after that Edit.
Chose Users and check in Full Control checkbox, so you would give editing rights over hosts file to users.
After that, all that is left is to click OK on all windows.
Open terminal.
Copy the next command and execute it:
sudo chmod og+w /etc/hosts
Using hosts file
Chrome:
Open a new tab, then in the upper left corner Apps and after that open the HostsAdmin app.
Mozilla Firefox:
In the upper right corner of the window you can see the HostAdmin logo, with blue and green colors. Click on it and after that on the Editor.
# comment
#1.2.3.4 www.sajt.com sajt.com
Legend:
# - is a sign for comment and when it is put in front of any line, that line will be treated as a comment and it wont affect the configuration.
1.2.3.4 - IP of the server that you want to open the website from
www.sajt.com sajt.com - you should always put www and non-www versions of website as we showed you in this example
You can activate/deactivate your new configuration in 2 ways:
After you finish with testing the website, always put under the comment everything that you changed in the hosts file.
Additional info: Flagfox is very useful addon for Firefox browser, as it has in extension of the field for address shows the icon of the country flag in which is located IP address of the website you are currently accessing. If you go over icon of the flag with cursor of the mouse, you will see IP address from which you accessed website from.
Installation for Mozilla Firefox:
Click on add to Firefox.
Then window will appear for installation, click install.After that you will need to allow rights for editing the hosts file, as it will be explained in the next part of this tutorial.Installation for Chrome:
Click on add to Chrome.
New a dialogue window will open, then click Add app.After that you will need to allow rights for editing the hosts file, as it will be explained in the next part of this tutorial.Setting up the hosts file on Windows:
Open My Computer, then open partition where you have Windows installed ( in most cases it will be Local Disk (C:) ).
On disk open the following path: Local Disk (C:) > Windows > System32 > drivers > etc
After that, click on hosts file with the right click, then open Properties window.
Click on Security, chose Users and after that Edit.
Chose Users and check in Full Control checkbox, so you would give editing rights over hosts file to users.After that, all that is left is to click OK on all windows.
Setting up hosts file on Linux:
Open terminal.
Copy the next command and execute it:
sudo chmod og+w /etc/hosts
Using hosts file
Chrome:
Open a new tab, then in the upper left corner Apps and after that open the HostsAdmin app.
Mozilla Firefox:In the upper right corner of the window you can see the HostAdmin logo, with blue and green colors. Click on it and after that on the Editor.
Setting it up
A new window/tab will appear, in which you will setup the following items (we will use fictional data, you will have to customize them on your own):# comment
#1.2.3.4 www.sajt.com sajt.com
Legend:
# - is a sign for comment and when it is put in front of any line, that line will be treated as a comment and it wont affect the configuration.
1.2.3.4 - IP of the server that you want to open the website from
www.sajt.com sajt.com - you should always put www and non-www versions of website as we showed you in this example
You can activate/deactivate your new configuration in 2 ways:
- Enter a new line in the HostAdmin editor, write IP address and name of the websites following the guidelines that we have already mentioned, and when you are done with editing, click on Save. If the line already exists, but is under comment, remove the sign for comment (#) from the front of the line where the IP is and the website it is pointing to, then click on Save.
- If you already did add the appropriate settings in the HostAdmin editor, you can turn it on and off by opening HostAdmin menu and clicking on the blank space left of the IP. You will notice that it is ticked on, which means that the change of the IP address of the website is active. Same way you can deactivate the change of IP address of the website.
After you finish with testing the website, always put under the comment everything that you changed in the hosts file.Additional info: Flagfox is very useful addon for Firefox browser, as it has in extension of the field for address shows the icon of the country flag in which is located IP address of the website you are currently accessing. If you go over icon of the flag with cursor of the mouse, you will see IP address from which you accessed website from.
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