Thanks Flash.
I was not aware of the "For" usages, only the "Against" (something) ones.
For a number of years I had DSL service, which was on static IP. But for the last several years I'm on cable modem broadband, which relies heavily on DHCP. (For those less familiar with this, the "D" stands for Dynamic -- i.e., changing addresses, assigned on the fly.) Therefore, some of what you mention seems likely to be a lot more complicated to implement here. I'm guessing that I'd have to go into the router, finding some appropriate tables and making a lot of changes there ?
I am not particularly networking savvy, but can usually follow detailed step-by-step instructions. I'm using a Linksys E-4200 (dual-radio router), running a customized DD-WRT software that a consultant set up for me.
We can take this off-list, if anyone objects to discussing it here.
Jordan
[Flash wrote]:
Note: resolving names to fixed IP addresses presupposes that the IP
addresses ARE fixed. If local computers are receiving different IP
addresses every day from a DHCP server, then either use static
mappings on the DHCP server or don't use the hosts file for those
stations.