Changing Your Host File

Below are the instructions for changing your host file. You will want to change your host file if:

• You want to see the changes you made to your web site immediately instead of having the possible 15 minute delay
• You have an application installed on your account (Joomla, Wordpress, Drupal, etc)
• You use Contribute and are having connection errors.

Instructions for PC Users

1. The host file on a Windows machine is located:
   c:\windows\systems32\drivers\etc\hosts
2. Open it with Notepad and at the bottom of the page type in:
   131.230.21.36 yoursite.siu.edu (if you are on the Drommel server)
   131.230.21.18 yoursite.siu.edu (if you are on the Shawnee server)
3. Save the file - make sure you save it with out the ".txt" extension on it
4. Restart computer

Instructions for Mac users

1. In Finder, click Go then "Go To Folder", type in /private/etc
2. Look for "hosts" file and copy it to the desktop
3. Open the hosts file on the desktop with TextEdit
4. At the bottom of the host file (after localhost), type in:
   131.230.21.36 yoursite.siu.edu (if you are on the Drommel server)
   131.230.21.18 yoursite.siu.edu (if you are on the Shawnee server)
5. Save the file
6. Drag the hosts file that is on the desktop back into the etc folder and replace the existing file (may have to enter computer password)
7. Restart computer

Note for Mac users - if you encounter an error when saving your host file, try changing the file through the Terminal with these instructions.