Access a local WAMP web server with a mac. Is it possible?

[Zedsdead185]

Hi,
I'm not amazingly knowledgable with networking and backend web servers so please take it easy.

Our web developer at work has recently set up a WAMP web server on our local network as a development server of the companies site. However, us designers are using macs and are finding it hard to access this new server via a web browser. We can access the first page using the servers IP address, however we cannot access it using the actual computer name of the server.

It is only a simple server set up on a windows PC tower and all other windows computers can access it using the computer name.

As an example. we can access it via:

http://192.168.1.2

but not via:

http://magento-server

Once we have accessed it via the ip address and navigate to some of the different links placed on the wamp home page, the address changes from the IP to:

http://magento-server/website1

and therefore cannot connect.

Once again, I'm sorry for not explaining it very well. I'm the designer, not the developer. Is there any way that we can access the WAMP server using the computer name instead of the ip with a mac? Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[aristobrat]

As an example. we can access it via:

http://192.168.1.2

but not via:

http://magento-server

Once we have accessed it via the ip address and navigate to some of the different links placed on the wamp home page, the address changes from the IP to:

http://magento-server/website1

and therefore cannot connect.

My guess is that this server doesn't have its name registered in DNS. In that situation, you'd be able to access it directly via the IP address, but not via the hostname.

Windows computers have the ability to see the names of other Windows machines on the same network without having to use DNS, which is probably why they're not having any problems connecting to the hostname, but you are.

IMO, the proper solution would be to get this system's name in DNS. If that's not possible, you should be able to add it to your /etc/hosts file.

http://osxdaily.com/2012/08/07/edit-hosts-file-mac-os-x/

In the example article above, you'd add a line at the bottom of your hosts file that looks like:
http://192.168.1.2 magento-server

 

[Zedsdead185]

My guess is that this server doesn't have its name registered in DNS. In that situation, you'd be able to access it directly via the IP address, but not via the hostname.

Windows computers have the ability to see the names of other Windows machines on the same network without having to use DNS, which is probably why they're not having any problems connecting to the hostname, but you are.

IMO, the proper solution would be to get this system's name in DNS. If that's not possible, you should be able to add it to your /etc/hosts file.

http://osxdaily.com/2012/08/07/edit-hosts-file-mac-os-x/

In the example article above, you'd add a line at the bottom of your hosts file that looks like:
http://192.168.1.2 magento-server

That was spot on! I followed the article and it is now working! I can't thank you enough. Thanks for your help aristobrat! It was much appreciated.