HOSTS(5)
NAME
hosts − host name database
DESCRIPTION
The /etc/hosts file contains information regarding the known DARPA Internet hosts with which your DOMAIN node can communicate (usually via TCP/IP). For each host a single line should be present with the following information: official host name Internet address aliases Items are separated by any number of blanks and/or tab characters. A # character indicates the beginning of a comment; characters between a # and the next newline are not interpreted by routines which search the file. This file is normally created from the official host database maintained at the Network Information Control Center (NIC), though local changes may be required to bring it up to date regarding unofficial aliases and/or unknown hosts.
Network addresses are specified in the conventional “.” notation using the inet_addr() routine from the Internet address manipulation library, inet(3N). Host names may contain any printable character other than a field delimiter, newline, or comment character.
FILES
/etc/hosts database of internet hosts