I'm using name-based virtual hosting. I've set up a development site on my linode. This is one of 10 other websites.

Normally I would add the domain name I'm working on and the linode ip to my local hosts file so I could work on the site in dev while client and rest of the world still sees the old site. Then when time is ready, go to godaddy and point the DNS.

But what if I don't have a local hosts file? Can't get shell access on the computer I'm using. How can I see a site that does not have the dns pointed to it?

I've asked the guys in support if there was something like http://linodeip.domainsever.something...but they've told me, no. I'd need to use a browser that could send host headers without using the actual domain. I'm locked into Chrome and I don't see this function.

I've looked up some sort of virtual hosts file, etc or proxy...but I can't seem to put my finger on it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Steven

You could set up a sub domain to point to the site say test.yoursite.com and have that as a server alias to the site.

_________________
Paid support
How to ask for help
1. Give details of your problem
2. Post any errors
3. Post relevant logs.
4. Don't hide details i.e. your domain, it just makes things harder
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Not sure if this is what you mean, but every linode comes with a default reverse DNS entry of liXX-YYY.members.linode.com.

One thing to be aware of when using a different (sub)domain for testing your website, however, is that some apps will break when you change the (sub)domain. For example, WordPress 2.x used to remember which domain it was on, and refused to function properly when moved to another domain. You had to change a couple of rows in the database before WordPress would play along. I don't know if WordPress 3.x still does this, but it was very annoying. Other apps might do this too, if it insists on using absolute URLs.

Wordpress 3.1 still does it, not sure about 3.2 not played with that yet.

_________________
Paid support
How to ask for help
1. Give details of your problem
2. Post any errors
3. Post relevant logs.
4. Don't hide details i.e. your domain, it just makes things harder
5. Be polite or you'll be eaten by a grue

Yes, that huge mass of spaghetti code known as WordPress still hard codes the FQDN it's installed at inside the database.

Yep. Wanted to stay away from a sub-domain for that particular reason. Going in afterwards and changing the wp-options table as well as some plugins that might act goofy. Looking for a vitrual hosts file to go through. A host file set up in the browser would be awesome...

Not sure how you can be doing legitimate dev work and NOT have shell access???

In any case, LIVE CD, edit hosts file, done.

Yes, far from legitimate. I have the site loaded and everything installed, just need to do some design tweaks on it. Will be away from home for a few weeks with a Chromebook as my tie to the world. Can sort the file changes and ftp, just can't figure the hosts file to access it as I would were I at home.

Is this the type of thing you're putting up with?

http://www.servercobra.com/nothing-but- ... or-a-week/

If so then why would Google provide an OS with such limited shell features. Even dropping into "developer" mode supposedly just gets you a shell "similar to bash".

Wow.

You actually paid good money for that machine?

Yeah, thanks. I've been following the servercobra. My comment on there. Slugging through it, yes indeed.