IE6 actually resolves invalid addresses - how?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Trevor
  • Start date Start date
T

Trevor

I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about web browsers and web servers
(though not an expert at all). I can't figure figure this one out. Can
anyone please tell me how it is accomplished?

I open IE6.0, type a word into the address field, press Enter, and I'm taken
to an Intranet site.

I'm a contractor, and when I got this client's offices, they gave me a
computer to work with. They have 2 intranet web sites that everyone visits
regularly, so they've configured SOMETHING to be able to react to the names
of these sites. For example, I can type
iSite
and press enter, and my browser takes me to
http://smprovider.MyClientCompany.com/authforms/newiconnect/direct.fcc?...
(I'm not sure what the rest is, because it flashes by so fast). And then
I'm immediately redirected to http://isite.MyClientCompany.com/portal/dt.
Another example: I type in iNotes and I'm taken to something on
smprovider.myclient.com... and then redirected to
http://WeirdName.myClientCompany.com.

I guess smprovider.mycompany.com is the address of an NT4 web server with
some special Option Pack on it, but how does my browser know to resolve
"iSite" to that web browser? Here's what I do know:

1. There's no proxy server specified in Internet Options
2. *.MyClientCompany.com is listed in the Local Intranet zone, but I'm not
typing iSite.MyclientCompany.Com, I'm just typing iSite, so this setting
isn't taking effect, right?
3. All network paths are included in the Local Intranet zone, but "iSite"
isn't a valid UNC, is it?
4. I searched the registry and did not find anything using the word iSite in
there (except the URL history for the browser)

I'd love to be able to use this feature for other clients - but how did they
do it?

Thanks!
 
You know, I got a similar answer in e-mail, and I was kicking myslef that I
didn't think of the hosts file (the other person also suggested the network
file). However, as it turns out, that's not the answer - the hosts file
just has 127.0.0.1 localhost and the network file just has loopback 127.

Any other ideas?


By the way, I did double check: IIS is not installed on this laptop.
Hi,

They may be using the hosts file.

That is, Internet Explorer checks a local hosts file for sites, and
their location, prior to sending a request to a DNS.

While I'm not exactly sure, it should be possible to configure IE to
automatically redirect to a subdomain through use of a hosts file.

Here is a sample HOSTS file from my windows directory (I'm running Win98SE)



# Copyright (c) 1998 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP stack for Windows98
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

127.0.0.1 localhost
216.239.57.99 zo





The last line:
216.239.57.99 zo

Sets my browser to automatically navigate to google.com whenever I type in
zo in the addressbar. Such a setup could cause you to automatically redirect
to that site whenever iSite is typed in.

Hope this helps,

Altrus




| I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about web browsers and web
servers
| (though not an expert at all). I can't figure figure this one out. Can
| anyone please tell me how it is accomplished?
|
| I open IE6.0, type a word into the address field, press Enter, and I'm
taken
| to an Intranet site.
|
| I'm a contractor, and when I got this client's offices, they gave me a
| computer to work with. They have 2 intranet web sites that everyone
visits
| regularly, so they've configured SOMETHING to be able to react to the
names
| of these sites. For example, I can type
| iSite
| and press enter, and my browser takes me to
| http://smprovider.MyClientCompany.com/authforms/newiconnect/direct.fcc?...
| (I'm not sure what the rest is, because it flashes by so fast). And then
| I'm immediately redirected to http://isite.MyClientCompany.com/portal/dt.
| Another example: I type in iNotes and I'm taken to something on
| smprovider.myclient.com... and then redirected to
| http://WeirdName.myClientCompany.com.
|
| I guess smprovider.mycompany.com is the address of an NT4 web server with
| some special Option Pack on it, but how does my browser know to resolve
| "iSite" to that web browser? Here's what I do know:
|
| 1. There's no proxy server specified in Internet Options
| 2. *.MyClientCompany.com is listed in the Local Intranet zone, but I'm not
| typing iSite.MyclientCompany.Com, I'm just typing iSite, so this setting
| isn't taking effect, right?
| 3. All network paths are included in the Local Intranet zone, but "iSite"
| isn't a valid UNC, is it?
| 4. I searched the registry and did not find anything using the word iSite
in
| there (except the URL history for the browser)
|
| I'd love to be able to use this feature for other clients - but how did
they
| do it?
|
| Thanks!
|
|
 
Hi,

I'm going out on a limb here, but I _think_ you _should_ be able to do that
through the registry. I have no idea what the reg key would be, but I guess if
you searched the registry for all instances of 'iSite' or whatever, you _may_
get some results.

Tell me if you find anything there, as it is kinda neat.

Altrus


| You know, I got a similar answer in e-mail, and I was kicking myslef that I
| didn't think of the hosts file (the other person also suggested the network
| file). However, as it turns out, that's not the answer - the hosts file
| just has 127.0.0.1 localhost and the network file just has loopback 127.
|
| Any other ideas?
|
|
| By the way, I did double check: IIS is not installed on this laptop.
| | Hi,
|
| They may be using the hosts file.
|
| That is, Internet Explorer checks a local hosts file for sites, and
| their location, prior to sending a request to a DNS.
|
| While I'm not exactly sure, it should be possible to configure IE to
| automatically redirect to a subdomain through use of a hosts file.
|
| Here is a sample HOSTS file from my windows directory (I'm running Win98SE)
|
|
|
| # Copyright (c) 1998 Microsoft Corp.
| #
| # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP stack for Windows98
| #
| # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
| # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
| # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
| # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
| # space.
| #
| # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
| # lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
| #
| # For example:
| #
| # 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
| # 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
|
| 127.0.0.1 localhost
| 216.239.57.99 zo
|
|
|
|
|
| The last line:
| 216.239.57.99 zo
|
| Sets my browser to automatically navigate to google.com whenever I type in
| zo in the addressbar. Such a setup could cause you to automatically redirect
| to that site whenever iSite is typed in.
|
| Hope this helps,
|
| Altrus
|
|
|
|
| | | I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about web browsers and web
| servers
| | (though not an expert at all). I can't figure figure this one out. Can
| | anyone please tell me how it is accomplished?
| |
| | I open IE6.0, type a word into the address field, press Enter, and I'm
| taken
| | to an Intranet site.
| |
| | I'm a contractor, and when I got this client's offices, they gave me a
| | computer to work with. They have 2 intranet web sites that everyone
| visits
| | regularly, so they've configured SOMETHING to be able to react to the
| names
| | of these sites. For example, I can type
| | iSite
| | and press enter, and my browser takes me to
| | http://smprovider.MyClientCompany.com/authforms/newiconnect/direct.fcc?...
| | (I'm not sure what the rest is, because it flashes by so fast). And then
| | I'm immediately redirected to http://isite.MyClientCompany.com/portal/dt.
| | Another example: I type in iNotes and I'm taken to something on
| | smprovider.myclient.com... and then redirected to
| | http://WeirdName.myClientCompany.com.
| |
| | I guess smprovider.mycompany.com is the address of an NT4 web server with
| | some special Option Pack on it, but how does my browser know to resolve
| | "iSite" to that web browser? Here's what I do know:
| |
| | 1. There's no proxy server specified in Internet Options
| | 2. *.MyClientCompany.com is listed in the Local Intranet zone, but I'm not
| | typing iSite.MyclientCompany.Com, I'm just typing iSite, so this setting
| | isn't taking effect, right?
| | 3. All network paths are included in the Local Intranet zone, but "iSite"
| | isn't a valid UNC, is it?
| | 4. I searched the registry and did not find anything using the word iSite
| in
| | there (except the URL history for the browser)
| |
| | I'd love to be able to use this feature for other clients - but how did
| they
| | do it?
| |
| | Thanks!
| |
| |
|
|
 
Altrus,

You know, I didn't find anything in the registry, either. It is pretty
curious as to how this is done, isn't it?

Just to show you that I really did check the registry, I will clarify that I
did found iSite in 2 places in the registry, but it just appears to be among
a list of recently visited URLs (HKEY_USERS/S-1-5-21-*lotsa
numbers*/Software/Microsoft/Internet Explorer/TypedURLs). Of course, I do
find it amazing that the registry is used for this, but, whatever....

Trevor
 
Hi,

Could it be server-side? Does the company use a proxy, or its own DNS?

Altrus




| Altrus,
|
| You know, I didn't find anything in the registry, either. It is pretty
| curious as to how this is done, isn't it?
|
| Just to show you that I really did check the registry, I will clarify that I
| did found iSite in 2 places in the registry, but it just appears to be among
| a list of recently visited URLs (HKEY_USERS/S-1-5-21-*lotsa
| numbers*/Software/Microsoft/Internet Explorer/TypedURLs). Of course, I do
| find it amazing that the registry is used for this, but, whatever....
|
| Trevor
|
| | > Hi,
| >
| > I'm going out on a limb here, but I _think_ you _should_ be able to do
| that
| > through the registry. I have no idea what the reg key would be, but I
| guess if
| > you searched the registry for all instances of 'iSite' or whatever, you
| _may_
| > get some results.
| >
| > Tell me if you find anything there, as it is kinda neat.
| >
| > Altrus
| >
| >
| > | > | You know, I got a similar answer in e-mail, and I was kicking myslef
| that I
| > | didn't think of the hosts file (the other person also suggested the
| network
| > | file). However, as it turns out, that's not the answer - the hosts file
| > | just has 127.0.0.1 localhost and the network file just has loopback 127.
| > |
| > | Any other ideas?
| > |
| > |
| > | By the way, I did double check: IIS is not installed on this laptop.
| > | | > | Hi,
| > |
| > | They may be using the hosts file.
| > |
| > | That is, Internet Explorer checks a local hosts file for sites, and
| > | their location, prior to sending a request to a DNS.
| > |
| > | While I'm not exactly sure, it should be possible to configure IE to
| > | automatically redirect to a subdomain through use of a hosts file.
| > |
| > | Here is a sample HOSTS file from my windows directory (I'm running
| Win98SE)
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > | # Copyright (c) 1998 Microsoft Corp.
| > | #
| > | # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP stack for
| Windows98
| > | #
| > | # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
| > | # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
| > | # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
| > | # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
| > | # space.
| > | #
| > | # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
| > | # lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
| > | #
| > | # For example:
| > | #
| > | # 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
| > | # 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
| > |
| > | 127.0.0.1 localhost
| > | 216.239.57.99 zo
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > | The last line:
| > | 216.239.57.99 zo
| > |
| > | Sets my browser to automatically navigate to google.com whenever I type
| in
| > | zo in the addressbar. Such a setup could cause you to automatically
| redirect
| > | to that site whenever iSite is typed in.
| > |
| > | Hope this helps,
| > |
| > | Altrus
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > |
| > | | > | | I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about web browsers and web
| > | servers
| > | | (though not an expert at all). I can't figure figure this one out.
| Can
| > | | anyone please tell me how it is accomplished?
| > | |
| > | | I open IE6.0, type a word into the address field, press Enter, and I'm
| > | taken
| > | | to an Intranet site.
| > | |
| > | | I'm a contractor, and when I got this client's offices, they gave me a
| > | | computer to work with. They have 2 intranet web sites that everyone
| > | visits
| > | | regularly, so they've configured SOMETHING to be able to react to the
| > | names
| > | | of these sites. For example, I can type
| > | | iSite
| > | | and press enter, and my browser takes me to
| > | |
| http://smprovider.MyClientCompany.com/authforms/newiconnect/direct.fcc?...
| > | | (I'm not sure what the rest is, because it flashes by so fast). And
| then
| > | | I'm immediately redirected to
| http://isite.MyClientCompany.com/portal/dt.
| > | | Another example: I type in iNotes and I'm taken to something on
| > | | smprovider.myclient.com... and then redirected to
| > | | http://WeirdName.myClientCompany.com.
| > | |
| > | | I guess smprovider.mycompany.com is the address of an NT4 web server
| with
| > | | some special Option Pack on it, but how does my browser know to
| resolve
| > | | "iSite" to that web browser? Here's what I do know:
| > | |
| > | | 1. There's no proxy server specified in Internet Options
| > | | 2. *.MyClientCompany.com is listed in the Local Intranet zone, but I'm
| not
| > | | typing iSite.MyclientCompany.Com, I'm just typing iSite, so this
| setting
| > | | isn't taking effect, right?
| > | | 3. All network paths are included in the Local Intranet zone, but
| "iSite"
| > | | isn't a valid UNC, is it?
| > | | 4. I searched the registry and did not find anything using the word
| iSite
| > | in
| > | | there (except the URL history for the browser)
| > | |
| > | | I'd love to be able to use this feature for other clients - but how
| did
| > | they
| > | | do it?
| > | |
| > | | Thanks!
| > | |
| > | |
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|
 
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