What c:\%windir%\%system%\drivers\e... file does?

I need to know what exactly this file does. I am operating on aWindows XP SP2 platform (Version 5.1 Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519: Service Pack 2, if this can help anyone out there, I just want you to have all the details). Here is how this file looks like:


======================================...


# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.


#


# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.


#


# 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

What c:\%windir%\%system%\drivers\e... file does?
The hosts file is used to create an alias for a machine. Let's say that there is a computer on your network (or available to you via a VPN) that has an i.p. address of 192.168.1.34 and you want this computer to be known as 'server12'. You would put the following entry in your hosts file:





192.168.1.34 server12





you could then refer to 'server12' in a windows application rather than specifying 192.168.1.34
Reply:Try this for more information,





http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.ht...





Have fun but be safe.
Reply:Yes, this will block access to all of these sites. You should change it back to the way it was, I searched this file name up on Yahoo! Search and got that answer.