Changed MVPS hosts file, what does THIS mean ?

After downloading the latest version of the mvps hosts file (Windows XP) I noticed the following entry in the beginning:

127.0.0.1 localhost

::1 localhost #[IPv6]

That wasn't there previously. I'm not sure about the former, but
::1 localhost #[IPv6] is new.

I did try to look it up, but I'm not sure. Is it just a symbolic entry, or does it actually do anything ?

For as far as I know I still use IPv4.

 

The adress for localhost depends on your protocol:

• IPv4: 127.0.0.1
• IPv6: ::1

 

No doubt, but over time more and more we will see IPv6 addresses.

So that means ip block lists and HOST files will need to store "bad" IPv6 addresses in the future to remain current.

 

Thank you.

One question though: will the ::1 entry when dealing with IPv6 keep the hosts file as effective as current IPv4 web traffic ?

Or is more complicated ?

 

Well that depends on HOW Microsoft deals with the HOST file code in it's operating systems in the future AND how complete/effective the HOST file organizations that provide entries for us are.

If MVPS for example is slow or excludes some bad IPv6 addresses that surely already exist that would be a bad thing.

 

I noticed the same as Fly, using Beyond Compare 2 on XP to compare the former and the new MVPS HOSTS file (always interesting to see the changes made ).

 

Yes, but it is worth noting that in xp we could edit the HOSTS file.

In W7 we can't directly do it. Gates has slammed the door as a security thingy (IMHO)

I miss the ability to edit the HOST FILE

 

Open/run Notepad (or whatever you use to edit text files) as Administrator and edit host file to your hearts content

 

Thanks! Who knew? I guess everybody but me!