Why did I need to edit the host file to get in?

I wasn't able to get into the site since Friday afternoon, and it wasn't until I saw sweedfish's post on a4f about editing the host file to be able to get back in. Why was this necessary (I'm guessing not everybody had to do this)? Were there changes made, or is it just some temporary DNS issue?

I probably won't be able to check at work anymore since I can't edit the host file there, but I guess that 's for the better lol.

Everyone had to do this, as there were some DNS issues with the site. The hosts file in is used to associate host names with IP addresses. Host names are addresses that you see every day. So, the host name for FiPG is www.freeipodguide.com, while its IP address is 216.218.206.55 Either address will take you to FiPG, but the www address will first have to be translated into the IP address. If you type in the IP address directly, your computer will not have to look it up. Your computer's hosts file basically acts as a local resource so that your computer won't have to query your ISP's DNS server to figure out what IP address belongs to what domain name. You will be able to access the site elsewhere without editing the hosts file as soon as the DNS issues are resolved (shouldn't be more than a few days). You can use the hosts file to block certain sites too ;)

http//www.bar-of-soap.com/forum/ should work without editing the hosts file.

[quote060204483b="comppimp"]http//www.bar-of-soap.com/forum/ should work without editing the hosts file.[/quote060204483b]

yup, that is the URL i have been giving to people.

[quote41ab4a0133="Vector"][quote41ab4a0133="comppimp"]http//www.bar-of-soap.com/forum/ should work without editing the hosts file.[/quote41ab4a0133]

yup, that is the URL i have been giving to people.[/quote41ab4a0133]
Ah ok. Thanks guys, I'll use that. I guess I will be losing a lot of productivity at work after all lol .

FON, thanks for the explanation too, I knew what the host file does but I'm sure that'll help out some people wink .

It looks like there are a lot less people on the forus in the past few days because of this. Hope the DNS issue is resolved soon for everyone's sake.

yeah I had the same problem tell comp helped me out D
Edit
Looks at number of site visitors obviously a ton of people still can't get in

yeah in the last couple of days there has probably been about 100 people visit it (

can't the admin send out an email to the listserve of how to get on?

the amount of time it could take to send an e-mail to everyone, he could spend that time trying to fix the problem.

is there not a listserve that would send the email out to all users?

There is. I prefer not to use it as I hate getting mail I don't really want. Unless you guys think it's a really good idea...

I would imagine it would be a good idea unless the DNS issues are supposed to be revolved soon...

I would send one out unless its going to be fixed today