Mac to server 2003 connection

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nomadros - 28 Mar 2007 01:02 GMT

I'm building a website on a laptop running 2003 server. The laptop is in its
own workgroup. I need to connect a mac to this so I can test the website
functionality through the mac's browsers. This is a basic set up with the the
http resolution through the server's host file, so no DNS or wins either.

How do I connect the mac to this so that it a) connects and b) resolves the
http address. Sorry, no nothing about macs!

TIA

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William Smith - 28 Mar 2007 06:16 GMT

> I'm building a website on a laptop running 2003 server. The laptop is in its
> own workgroup. I need to connect a mac to this so I can test the website
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> How do I connect the mac to this so that it a) connects and b) resolves the
> http address. Sorry, no nothing about macs!

Would using the Windows Server's IP address not suffice?

If you must use a name then you should be able to add it to the Hosts
file on the Mac. Open the Terminal application found in
/Applications/Utilities on the Mac and type "man hosts" + return. This
will tell you how to modify the Hosts file.

Hope this helps! bill

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William M. Smith
(Microsoft Interop MVP - Mac/Windows)

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nomadros - 28 Mar 2007 11:20 GMT

Thanks for the response....well at least I now know the mac has a hosts file
too!

The main problem I now have is the network connection itself. I've given the
mac a static IP and put it on the same subnet as the laptop, but it won't
connect without a router or DNS IP.

Suppose I should start DNS, but this was just supposed to be a quick and
dirty connection for screen display testing. Looked on the web, but
everyone's trying to do it properly rather than a quick lash together. If you
have any further advice, I'd really appreciate it.

TIA

> > I'm building a website on a laptop running 2003 server. The laptop is in its
> > own workgroup. I need to connect a mac to this so I can test the website
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Hope this helps! bill

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William Smith - 29 Mar 2007 04:57 GMT

> Thanks for the response....well at least I now know the mac has a hosts file
> too!

Mac use networking standards just like Windows or any other OS. Knowing
that, an easy way to troubleshoot is to simply ask yourself what you'd
do on your Windows system. (Keep in mind that "networking standards"
don't include Microsoft proprietary systems like WINS - although Macs
can do WINS lookups.)

> The main problem I now have is the network connection itself. I've given the
> mac a static IP and put it on the same subnet as the laptop, but it won't
> connect without a router or DNS IP.

Must you assign it a static IP? Macs are capable of using DHCP as well
and receiving all this information. Modify the Hosts file on the Mac to
include an A resource record and you should get connected:

server.domain.com - tab -> A - tab -> 192.168.1.2 or just
server.domain.com A 192.168.1.2

Hope this helps! bill

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William M. Smith
(Microsoft Interop MVP - Mac/Windows)

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Mac Forum / Applications / Other MS Products / March 2007

Mac to server 2003 connection