Is there a way to replace 127.0.0.1 on my local machine for test purposes?

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+3 Q:

Is there a way to replace 127.0.0.1 on my local machine for test purposes?

I know it may sound stupid but anyway. Maybe there is a trick?

I just want that the local web server receives requests from my local machine but somehow sees a different IP address? Even one single that is different from the infamous 127.0.0.1 would of a great assistance.

Are there any options available?

+4 A:

Try 127.0.0.2 or 127.0.0.3 ... or ...

Seriously, try it!

Depending on your operating system, localhost might be reachable via the entire 127.0.0.0/8 network, so even 127.42.37.254 would reach localhost (it does on my Ubuntu machine).

Joachim Sauer 2009-04-23 19:05:36

When you try it, don't forget to make sure your web server is configured to listen on that IP.

Greg 2009-04-23 19:08:20

How to actually "try" it? What and where should I change?

User 2009-04-23 19:14:59

Either put the 127.0.0.2 (or whatever) in the URL instead of a hostname, or edit your HOSTS file so that localhost points to the IP address you want (or even better add some additional names like localhost2, localhost3, etc.)

Michael Burr 2009-04-23 19:20:17

Simplest "try it" is to ping 127.0.0.2. This should get an response.Then try to access your webserver at 127.0.0.2. If it's listening on the loopback interface, then this will work. If it isn't, then explicitely tell it to listen on that IP and try again.

Joachim Sauer 2009-04-23 19:31:05

@Michael: I would definitely not reissue localhost to any IP other than 127.0.0.1 - additional hostnames should be fine. Breaking the commutativity of the localhost == 127.0.0.1 assumption is going to hurt bigtime sooner rather than later.

Mihai Limbășan 2009-04-23 19:33:28

That didn't work...

User 2009-07-11 18:02:54

Define "that" (i.e. what you tried) and "didn't work" (i.e. what did you observe).

Joachim Sauer 2009-07-12 00:06:42

+2 A:

Are you accessing the local web server via 127.0.0.1? If so, what if you use your machine's actual IP address? The request will still end up at your local web server, but maybe it will see that as the sender instead of 127.0.0.1.

Andy 2009-04-23 19:07:53

You could use your public IP address.

RossFabricant 2009-04-23 19:08:49

Doesn't work when behind NAT unless your router is correctly configured.

epochwolf 2009-04-23 20:30:50

I think he means the "outward-facing" IP address. If you're behind a NAT, then your eth0 IP would be 192.168.1.55 or something — different, that is, from 127.0.0.1, and thus a way to talk to your own web server without its identifying the IP as a loopback IP.

Brandon Craig Rhodes 2009-04-23 20:45:11

The linked site only gives the ip address the internet can see which when behind NAT is not the address of eth0. If the answer is corrected I'll happily delete my comments.

epochwolf 2009-04-23 22:26:20

+3 A:

Or put an entry in your HOSTS file for anything you want, pointing to localhost.

le dorfier 2009-04-23 19:09:16

But wouldn't the server application still see the IP as localhost/127.0.0.1?

Herms 2009-04-23 19:10:47

You can always configure webserver to listen on your network ip address and then use that ip.

On the other hand if you are looking to get requests from multiple domains like a.localhost, b.localhost, and c.localhost try editing your hosts file to redirect domains to 127.0.0.1

epochwolf 2009-04-23 20:33:07

ansaurus

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Is there a way to replace 127.0.0.1 on my local machine for test purposes?

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