Must the Hosts file exist?

18 May 2009 10:44 PM

CharlieOt

I seem to recall reading somewhere that issues might be encountered if there
was no hosts file with at least the localhost entry (loopback address).
Obviously any apps trying to resolve "localhost" will fail, but I'm not
certain if there are any OS calls using localhost.

Does anyone know if the hosts file must exist for proper function in XP?
Failing that, does anyone know of anything specific that might not work
properly without it?

19 May 2009 12:15 AM

Jack-MVP

Hi
You Never know what suddenly would get stuck because of missing Host File.
Every thing you need to know about Host file.
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hostsfaq.htm
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)

Show quoteHide quote

"CharlieOt" <Charli***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6B9E3140-5252-4E84-AE88-35C7B498EF84@microsoft.com...
>I seem to recall reading somewhere that issues might be encountered if
>there
> was no hosts file with at least the localhost entry (loopback address).
> Obviously any apps trying to resolve "localhost" will fail, but I'm not
> certain if there are any OS calls using localhost.
>
> Does anyone know if the hosts file must exist for proper function in XP?
> Failing that, does anyone know of anything specific that might not work
> properly without it?

19 May 2009 12:49 AM

CharlieOt

Jack,
I'm afraid I'm looking for something more advanced technically that the mvps
pages offer. I'm looking to see if any core OS functions or IP stack
components are dependent upon the loopback address (similar to IIS on any
server or workstation platform).

The things I've looked at so far are:
1) Utilities that might reference localhost.
2) Application consoles
3) Application installers

Each of those could (but might not) reference "localhost." I'm really just
about to core OS at this point.

I appreciate your input. If you have anything that might speak to the Core
OS or something that I may have overlooked, please post further...:)

Charlie
Show quoteHide quote

"Jack-MVP" wrote:

> Hi
> You Never know what suddenly would get stuck because of missing Host File.
> Every thing you need to know about Host file.
> http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hostsfaq.htm
> Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)
>
> "CharlieOt" <Charli***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6B9E3140-5252-4E84-AE88-35C7B498EF84@microsoft.com...
> >I seem to recall reading somewhere that issues might be encountered if
> >there
> > was no hosts file with at least the localhost entry (loopback address).
> > Obviously any apps trying to resolve "localhost" will fail, but I'm not
> > certain if there are any OS calls using localhost.
> >
> > Does anyone know if the hosts file must exist for proper function in XP?
> > Failing that, does anyone know of anything specific that might not work
> > properly without it?
>
>

19 May 2009 2:23 PM

Jack-MVP

Hi
Windows can function without a network, or a network Card, and then there No
need for TCP/IP.
So I would say that the core does not care about the Host file.
Once you have a Network you can not talk any more in Core terms because it
is an interaction situation and traffic on the Network affects all computers
in various degrees.
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)

Show quoteHide quote

"CharlieOt" <Charli***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:78DA28C6-1C27-42EA-8B58-6D558C936920@microsoft.com...
>
> Jack,
> I'm afraid I'm looking for something more advanced technically that the
> mvps
> pages offer. I'm looking to see if any core OS functions or IP stack
> components are dependent upon the loopback address (similar to IIS on any
> server or workstation platform).
>
> The things I've looked at so far are:
> 1) Utilities that might reference localhost.
> 2) Application consoles
> 3) Application installers
>
> Each of those could (but might not) reference "localhost." I'm really just
> about to core OS at this point.
>
> I appreciate your input. If you have anything that might speak to the Core
> OS or something that I may have overlooked, please post further...:)
>
> Charlie
> "Jack-MVP" wrote:
>
>> Hi
>> You Never know what suddenly would get stuck because of missing Host
>> File.
>> Every thing you need to know about Host file.
>> http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hostsfaq.htm
>> Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)
>>
>> "CharlieOt" <Charli***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:6B9E3140-5252-4E84-AE88-35C7B498EF84@microsoft.com...
>> >I seem to recall reading somewhere that issues might be encountered if
>> >there
>> > was no hosts file with at least the localhost entry (loopback address).
>> > Obviously any apps trying to resolve "localhost" will fail, but I'm not
>> > certain if there are any OS calls using localhost.
>> >
>> > Does anyone know if the hosts file must exist for proper function in
>> > XP?
>> > Failing that, does anyone know of anything specific that might not work
>> > properly without it?
>>
>>

22 May 2009 6:45 AM

Steve Winograd

On Mon, 18 May 2009 15:44:01 -0700, CharlieOt
<Charli***@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I seem to recall reading somewhere that issues might be encountered if there
>was no hosts file with at least the localhost entry (loopback address).
>Obviously any apps trying to resolve "localhost" will fail, but I'm not
>certain if there are any OS calls using localhost.
>
>Does anyone know if the hosts file must exist for proper function in XP?
>Failing that, does anyone know of anything specific that might not work
>properly without it?

The sure way to find out is to delete the Hosts file, use the computer
normally, and see what happens.

You can always restore it if necessary. I don't think it will be.

If you do it, please let us know the result.

--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Desktop Experience)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com