How Host files can i use simultaneously

i want to know if i can use mvps host file with other hosts file.


otherwise can i merge several Hosts file??

 

Yes you can use as much as you want, for example mvps, and hphosts and even your own litle textfile containing redirected hosts,
you can use a tool like HostsMan to combine them all, and filter out the duplicates, and even whitelist hosts you do not want to block.

 

I use MVPS and hpHosts HOSTS files together with no problems. I use HostsXpert v4.3 to manage/merge the files.

 

There is also a hosts file editor in the software category, which can merge/backup/import/export different hosts files. Its freeware.

 

I've heard that having a large hosts-file might slow down the system and it can be avoided by disabling the DNS Client!

May be some one else can elaborate on this matter?

 

Yes, it's correct. But, it is not needed to disable DNS Client; you may set it to manually start.

I don't know if all systems support it, but, one other way (along side disabling or manually starting DNS Client) would be to use a HOSTS file beginning with 0.0.0.0 instead of 127.0.0.1.

And, on more way of fastening things, and if not a so huge HOSTS file, would be to, also, optimize the HOSTS file to have a few entries in each line, instead of just one. This will decrease the size of the HOSTS file. For example, a 7 MB HOSTS file would be rezised to something like 3-4 MB.

The guy behind HostsMan developed a tool that does just that. The HostsMan 4 (when it comes out), will do it automatically.

 

I'd like to see better integration with the HostsServer which could keep track of the hit rate for each entry and automatically prune the list of unused entries. A browser right click function that would allow you to right click on a link/object and add the host to the HOSTS file would be nice too.