If you wish to connect to a machine by hostname (which is not registered in DNS (Domain Name Server)) you need to add <IP> <Fully Qualified Hostname> <Hostname> in Hosts file.
   Adding an entry in Non Vista (Microsoft O.S. XP, 2000, NT) is pretty simple. Open hosts file (using text editor like notepad, wordpad..) and hostname entry in above format like

192.168.0.1  myMachine.myDomain  myMachine

  • Location of hosts file in windows is C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc  (where C is drive in which you installed operating system)
  • Location of hosts file in Unix/Linux is /etc

Change hosts file in Windows Vista

If your O.S. is windows vista, it won’t let you save your hosts file if you don’t open file editor (like notepad) with Administrator Privileges

  • Click Start -> All Programs -> Accessories
  • Right click Notepad and select “Run as Administrator“
  • On Notepad click on File -> Open
  • Browse to “C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc“
  • Change the file filter drop down box from “Text Documents (*.txt)” to “All Files (*.*)“
  • Select file hosts and click on Open
  • Add entry of host which you wish to connect in format
    <IP Address> <Machine Name> <Machine Alias>  like
    192.168.1.1    myMachine.myDomainName  myMachine

Note : If you can’t find Accessories under All Programs then to identify Program (Notepad) type notepad in Start Search box after clicking on Start menu at bottom left of your laptop

* Ensure you don’t savefile as type text (hosts.txt),  file name should be just hosts

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