Using the 'hosts' file to test or develop a website

Knowledgebase Article

Using the 'hosts' file to test or develop a website

If you're in the process of migrating to Kualo or developing a new website, you might find yourself needing to access the site before it goes live. This guide offers a detailed walkthrough on using your workstation's 'hosts' file to achieve this, a method particularly useful when navigating the complexities of modern PHP software and rewrite rules.

Using the 'hosts' file provides a reliable way to test your website in a real-world environment, but it does require modifying system files and does not facilitate the creation of shareable links for client or team reviews. For those needing a simpler solution or the ability to share progress with others, an alternative is using SkipDNS, a tool that allows you to preview your website without system modifications. For more information on this approach, we invite you to read our companion article here.

Overview

Accessing the development version of a website can be challenging due to URL rewrites in modern PHP frameworks, which are designed to enhance search engine optimization. To bypass these challenges, modifying the 'hosts' file on your local workstation is an effective solution. This method directs your web browser to the development site's IP address, without impacting the live website's accessibility to other users.

Procedure

Locating the 'Hosts' File:
- Windows: The path is %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts. Typically, %SystemRoot% is C:\Windows.
- Linux & MacOS: The file is located at /etc/hosts.
Finding Your Development Site's IP Address:
Log into your cPanel and navigate to the General Information section. Look for 'Your Shared IP Address' or 'Your Dedicated IP Address'.
Modifying the 'Hosts' File:
Add a line like 1.2.3.4 yourdomainatkualo.com www.yourdomainatkualo.com, replacing 1.2.3.4 with your site's IP address that you obtained from cPanel. Save the file after making changes.
Refreshing Your Browser:
Restart your browser or clear the cache to ensure the changes take effect.
Reverting Changes:
After completing your testing, remove or comment out the entry in the 'hosts' file by adding a # before the line. You'll need to save your file, restart your browser and possibly clear caches, as you did before.

Operating System Specific Notes

Windows 7: Edit the 'hosts' file by running Notepad as an Administrator.
Windows 10: Copy the hosts file to your Desktop, edit it, then paste it back to its original location.
MacOS X: Use the 'Terminal' application with the command sudo pico -w /etc/hosts and your administrative password.

Conclusion

Modifying the 'hosts' file is a straightforward yet powerful way to access development versions of websites. This method ensures that you can test and develop in a realistic environment without disrupting the live site. Always remember to revert any changes in the 'hosts' file after completing your work to avoid future access issues.

For a simpler method you may also wish to explore how you can use SkipDNS to preview a website before making it live.