Oct 02, 2014 First off, let me explain what a DNS Entry is in order for us to understand why we would need to override it. Basically a DNS entry is a record or entry that tells us what ip address is of a domain will point to. Manually Override DNS DNS on Mac. Mac is the same as the above linux example. Simply edit the hosts file under /etc/hosts and add.
I have an iPad that needs to be able to connect to a server via its short hostname, e.g. http://app instead of http://app.example.com. The network it connects to assigns it a domain name other than example.com so it doesn't work automatically.
Is there a way to add a hosts entry (/etc/hosts) for that server in iOS, or add the appropriate domain name to the resolver search list without jailbreaking?
Manual Dns Entry Mac Os
5 Answers
Use Weblock - AdBlock for iOS app to create a redirect rule from http://app to the IP and port you like.
(Only works when on a WIFI network)
No, but as a work-around, you could have your iPad proxy to a Mac on your home LAN and then do the DNS trickery there.

(I'm assuming that you need this ability during debugging/testing, not 'everywhere.')
TJ LuomaTJ LuomaLocal Dns Entry
In general, editing the Hosts file is a bad solution. I only use it for temporary testing, and always remove any hosts file entry a few minutes after adding it.
You should be using a DNS server of some kind to setup your custom domain, perhaps this is possible with your wifi router, or else you can set up any mac as a DNS server.
As a nice side benefit, having your DNS server on the LAN will make your internet noticeably faster. Most people are using their router as a DNS server and they really are not fast enough to implement DNS properly. It's a good idea to use a fast remote DNS server (which one is best will depend on what city you live in), but having one on your LAN is even better.
You can google for instructions how to setup bind on any mac, it's free. Or you can purchase Lion Server from Apple in the App Store, and download Server Admin Tools to configure bind with a nice GUI (with Lion, unlike Snow Leopard, you have to download Server Admin Tools separately form buying a license for Mac OS X Server. Basically they've separated the advanced server tools out into a separate download from the basic ones).
Actually, there is a way.Create your own app including a network extension that filters DNS queries using NEPacketTunnelProvider and parsing IP packets manually.I already have it, working perfectly, and will upload it in a few days. I will add the possibility to upload host files too.Although 7 years ago this was not technically possible.