Laravel Forge

How to Simulate a Website Launch Using the "hosts" File on Your Mac

If you have make a DNS change to launch a new website, but you'd like to check the site out before the DNS change propagates you can do the following:

1. Open terminal

2. Use nano to edit the hosts file with this command

   sudo nano /etc/hosts
   

3. You will need to enter an admin password to edit the file.

4. Quit your web browser.

5. Flush the DNS cache using the following command

   sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder; say DNS cache has been reset
   

6. Try to visit the site.

7. Under the steps above to put it back the way it was.