Testing your Web Sales (the Hosts file)

If your computer in the office cannot see the ticketing web site, the best way is to set up a DNS server inside the network to help all computers see the server.

Only edit the local machines 'host' file if you cannot set up a DNS server.

Testing your Web Sales Site

You should be able to access your ticketing web site via the URL you used to create the TLS certificate after the:

Try accessing the ticketing web site from:

  • a location outside the office to confirm it works. A cell phone is the ideal way - using the data plan and not while connected to the wifi network.
  • one or more computers inside the office to confirm that it works

 

Troubleshooting access inside the office

If you are having issues connecting to your ticketing web site while inside the office and are receiving timeouts, this is often resolved by:

  • adding an internal DNS entry to your DNS server to point to your ticketing web site via an internal path (preferred approach) -or-
  • editing the hosts file on each machine

Mac's are not usually subjected to this issue. PC's inside the office frequently are because they do not always seem to be able to resolve the DNS that goes outside the firewall and back in, so you have to edit the hosts file to tell the PC how to find the web site.

Editing the Host file for Mac

Troubleshooting generally depends on the behavior of the DNS within the firewall and the operating system used. Most Mac's will easily find 'tickets.yourvenue.org' by navigating through the firewall properly. However it may be possible for a machine to not be able to access the online sales domain directly.

The best way of correcting this issue is to put an entry within the internal DNS server to point 'tickets.myserver.org' directly to the IP address of the apache server.

If that is not possible, an entry in the hosts file of each web listener that points to the apache server can be made. This should be done if the DNS does not propagate in the internal network. If the Web Listeners start up and are able to find the 'tickets.myvenue.org', you will not need this step. If they do startup but they seem to be ignored by apache very quickly, then you will need this step.

# Description
1 Open the 'Terminal' window.
2 Type cd /etc.
3 Type sudo vi hosts.
4 Type the administrator password to the machine.
5 Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to scroll down.
6 Type 'I' to enter the edit mode.
7 Add the IP address of the Apache machine followed by the online sales domain.

8 Click the 'ESC' key on the keyboard.
9 Hold the SHIFT key on the keyboard and type Q.
10 Type WQ.
This with write the changes to the Host file and close it.

Editing the Host file for Windows

Troubleshooting generally depends on the behaviour of the DNS within the firewall and the operating system you use. Windows machines sometimes need a helping hand.

The best approach is to put an entry within the internal DNS server to point 'tickets.myserver.org' directly to the internal address of the apache server.

If that is not possible, an entry in the hosts file of each web listener that points to the apache server may be needed. If the Web Listeners start up and are able to find the 'tickets.myvenue.org', this step is not needed. If they do startup but they seem to be ignored by apache very quickly, this step will be needed.

# Description
1 Open My Computer.
2 Navigate to c:/windows/system32/drivers/etc/ (or where the windows system32 directory is located).
3 Right click on the Hosts file.
4 Select Open With... WordPad.
5 Add the IP address of the Apache machine followed by the online sales domain.

6 Click File >> Save.
6 Close the Host file.