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Is there a way for me to assign a domain name to a computer's local IP address, not for use with people outside the network?

Preferably with no need to buy said domain.

A example would to use domain.com for the IP 192.168.1.11, a local computer on the network, and when I type domain.com in my browser it will bring me to whatever is on http://192.168.1.11:80/

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    Some routers can do this, and some can't. Can you tell us what manufacturer and model your is?
    – Moshe Katz
    Dec 17, 2013 at 22:33
  • @kevin whats the point of editing my post? I did get a answer, i don't exactly see a reason for you to change the question i asked. I didn't ask specifically for DNS. Dec 18, 2013 at 0:56
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    @fredghostkyle superuser.com/help/editing Dec 18, 2013 at 19:14

2 Answers 2

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The simplest solution:

Open C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts with notepad. Write in the following line:

192.168.1.1 domain.com

This change will be visible on your computer only. If you have more than one, maybe you need to make this on every computer.


More complex ways, if you need multiple machines to access this:

  1. Check deep the menu system of your local router. Most of them have local dns functionality. Look for "dns", "name server", "zone", "local zone" or such menu entries. There you can set it up.

  2. You could run your own DNS server on your network. If you configure your networked computers to use your new DNS server you would be able to push the new "domain" or "host" with a single configuration change at the DNS server.

  3. You could find a free dns provider on the net (google for: free dns zone), and with it you could set up a zone for your local network. It were a sub-optimal solution, because it made your local dns out of your local network, and thus it has many disadvantages, although it could work.

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    This will only work on each computer that has an edited hosts file.
    – Sam Axe
    Dec 17, 2013 at 22:13
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    @Dan-o Yes, you have absolutely right.
    – peterh
    Dec 17, 2013 at 22:16
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    Is there any way for me to do something similar on a DNS or router so everyone on my network will have that? thanks for the speedy answer! Dec 17, 2013 at 22:28
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    Bring up your own dns server, look up for isc bind, then set your router DHCP server so that it sends out your own DNS server ip for clients. It's not that hard. DDWRT inside your router (if it is supported) and you will get compact package Dec 17, 2013 at 23:01
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At one point, I was testing things like this and came across Simple DNS Plus. It's basically just a DNS server software than can run on any Windows box. It's pretty configurable and did the trick for me. It's not free and I'm in no way affiliated.

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