In sco unix I have: /etc/hosts # @(#)hosts 1.2 Lachman System V STREAMS TCP source # SCCS IDENTIFICATION 127.0.0.1 localhost 223.252.254.1 scosysv scosysv.default.com 223.252.254.118 pc019 pc019.default.com 223.252.254.109 pc010 Jura PC-NFS24A04767 223.252.254.1 host1 host1.default.com 223.252.254.201 host0 host0.default.com 223.252.254.218 doc doc.default.com Now I want to append new address: 192.160.2.76 my my.default.com close the host file... and what next? How to -hm- "(re)compile"? (tried with mkhost, but w/o success). Can I put a range of addresses: 192.160.2.76 - 100 (meaning: 192.160.2.76 192.160.2.77 ... 192.160.2.99 192.160.2.100) or one by one? Thanx.

You do not have to recompile an /etc/hosts file. Add in the IP and the host alias and close the file. You should then be able to ping the host alias. You cannot use a range of IPs. There would be no way for them to resolve to a host name or alias.