hosts file locked or deleted from dns cache?

[Dole Bludger]

I have configured a server with the name and ip address in my hosts file on
my PC. I use windows explorer to put on my desktop icon "property" -
Target: the following command:

//myserver/start/mybat.bat


That works fine, but on some occassions it seems to me that my hosts file
contents simply disappears from my dns cache ( I could not find myserver in
output of ipconfig /displaydns). Of course, when it happens I could not ping
myserver, and I get message something like host unknown.

I do not know what and how something on my PC cause that host file on
c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts simply does not work as expected.


Can I somehow debug and see what the problems is? Whether some program
locks hosts file or its content is simply deleted?

When I do repair of my local area connection, everything seems to be OK.

The problems is that I have to have admin account to do that.

 

[Jack \(MVP-Networking\).]

Hi
Are you using static IPs (or IP reservation) to make sure that the computers
are always available at the same address?
Jack (MS, MVP-Networking)

 

[John Wunderlich]

I have configured a server with the name and ip address in my
hosts file on my PC. I use windows explorer to put on my desktop
icon "property" - Target: the following command:

//myserver/start/mybat.bat


That works fine, but on some occassions it seems to me that my
hosts file contents simply disappears from my dns cache ( I could
not find myserver in output of ipconfig /displaydns). Of course,
when it happens I could not ping myserver, and I get message
something like host unknown.

I do not know what and how something on my PC cause that host file
on c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts simply does not work as
expected.

The purpose for the entry that you put in the "Hosts" file was to
provide resolution for a UNC reference (i.e. \\myserver\...). The
"Hosts" file is not the place to put this. You should place this entry
in the "LMHosts" file in the same directory (Take the lmhosts.sam file,
modify it, and save it without the .sam extension).

For more information:
"How to Write an LMHOSTS File for Domain Validation and Other Name
Resolution Issues"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314108/EN-US/>

"Differences Between the HOSTS and LMHOSTS Files in Windows NT"
(applies to XP as well)...
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/105997>

HTH,
John