Hosts file question

[Stacy Pober]

In Windows 95, when DNS is working and you have a hosts file, which is 
consulted first?    I was considering putting a local hosts file in to be 
a backup for DNS failure, but if the hosts file overrides DNS, that makes 
me somewhat leery of doing so.

Also, the sample hosts file in Windows specifies 127.0.0.1 as  localhost.  
Is this line necessary?  Optional?  What does it actually DO? 

These machines all have individual static IP's - the localhost entry 
won't cause any problem with regard to IP identity (or recognition) of the 
individual computers, will it?  

TIA
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Stacy Pober                   mailto: spober at manhattan.edu
Information Alchemist         http://www.manhattan.edu/library/
Manhattan College Libraries   Voice: 718-862-7166
Riverdale, NY 10471           Fax:   718-862-7995
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