On Debian (and most Linux distributions), you can define an Internet host alias (a hostname that resolves to an IP address) by editing the /etc/hosts file. This is useful for testing, local development, or creating shortcuts for frequently accessed hosts.

Steps to Define a Host Alias

1. Open the /etc/hosts file with a text editor (you need root privileges):

   bash
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   sudo nano /etc/hosts
   

   (You can use vim, gedit, or any other editor instead of nano.)

2. Add your alias in the following format:

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   <IP_address>    <hostname> [aliases...]
   

   For example, to alias myserver to 192.168.1.100, add:

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   192.168.1.100    myserver
   

   You can also add multiple aliases for the same IP:

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   192.168.1.100    myserver myserver-alias
   

3. Save the file and exit the editor.

4. Test the alias by pinging or using the hostname:

   bash
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   ping myserver
   

   (If the alias works, it should resolve to the IP you specified.)

Notes:

• Changes to /etc/hosts take effect immediately.
• This method only affects the local machine. For network-wide aliases, use DNS or a local DNS server.
• If you’re using a domain name (e.g., myserver.local), ensure your system is configured to resolve .local domains (commonly used for local networks).