in my windows HOSTS file, I added
127.0.0.1 abc.com
and it works fine for me.

How can I setup so that I can use [anystring].abc.com?

Thanks,
Sachin

Wild cards are not acceptable in the etc/hosts file. You can either make a separate entry for each and every subdomain, if possible, or consider installing a local DNS server, and changing your network tcp/ip connection setup properties to use it. (DNS server programs are usually supplied with "server" versions of Microsoft operating systems, but not "user" versions like XP. I know that third-party programs are available, but I have never set up or used a DNS server on non-server platforms.)

Regards,

Dave

I have also often wondered about this. Thank you for confirming that it is not possible (via the HOSTS file).

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Thanks. Any other solution to this issue?

Basically, I have a php application running on apache and want that any URL like x.abc.com [x can be anything] works. I can trap the URL and then do whatever i want.

Other than what?


Here's the drill for servers:


1. Set up a wildcard subdomain in the DNS server for your machine.

2. Set up a virtual host in your Apache configuration file.

Quick reference: Apache & Wildcard Domain

Regards,

Dave

[disclaimer]
I do not set up or administer web sites, although I have been known to dabble a little, every now and then.

In other words: Although I know that this simple two-step methodology can work, there have been so many changes in implementations of DNS servers over the years, that there is no way that I can help beyond this.
[/disclaimer]