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How to access a website which exists in Plesk but is not resolved to it from the Internet

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Kuzma Ivanov
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Plesk for Windows Plesk for Linux kb: how-to

Applicable to:

  • Plesk for Linux
  • Plesk for Windows

Question

How to access a website which exists in Plesk, but is not resolved to it from the Internet? For example, when a website was created for tests, recently migrated or its DNS zone has not propagated through the Internet yet.

Answer

 

Accessing a website using Plesk Preview feature

 

  1. In Plesk, go to Websites & Domains > example.com.

  2. Click Preview under the domain.

    Note: Preview feature requires nginx reverse proxy to be enabled by Plesk Administrator. Otherwise, the button will be missing.


    Screenshot_2019-04-09_Websites_Domains_-_Plesk_Onyx_17_8_11.png

 

Accessing a website using a local hosts file

 

Modifying the 'hosts' file allows overriding DNS for a domain on a particular machine and causes local machine to look directly at the IP address specified.

For example, the domain example.com is hosted on a server with IP address 203.0.113.2, but is not resolved to this IP from the Internet. To make your PC/Mac resolve this website to this particular IP address, just add the line below to your local 'hosts' file like this:

CONFIG_TEXT: 203.0.113.2 example.com www.example.com

 

Modifying the 'hosts' file...

 

  • on Windows OS

    1. Start a command prompt as an Administrator.

    2. Run the following command to open the 'hosts' file in Windows Notepad:

      C:\> notepad C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts

    3. Add domain's IP address and a domain name on a new line.

    4. Click File > Save to save your changes.

       

  • on macOS

    1. Open Applications > Utilities > Terminal.

    2. Open the hosts file by typing the following line in a terminal window:

      # sudo nano /private/etc/hosts

      Type your domain user password when prompted.

    3. Add domain's IP address and a domain name on a new line.

      Note: The file contains some comments (lines starting with a hash "#" symbol) and some default hostname mappings (for example, 127.0.0.1 – local host). Add your new mappings after the default mappings.

    4. Save the hosts file by pressing 'Control+x' and answering y.

    5. Make changes take effect by flushing the DNS cache with the following command:

      # dscacheutil -flushcache

       

  • on Linux OS

    1. In Linux terminal, open the 'hosts' file in a text editor:

      # vi /etc/hosts

    2. Add domain's IP address and a domain name on a new line.

    3. Save the changes and close the file.

 

Accessing a website using a public server IP address

 

  1. In Plesk, go to Tools & Settings > IP Addresses > click on a public IP address, to which the required domain is assigned in Plesk > select an offline website as a Default site from the drop-down menu.

  2. Now, to access the domain, type in the public IP address chosen above in a web-browser: http://203.0.112.2:80.

    Note: example.com must be assigned to this IP address in Plesk at Domains > example.com > Hosting Settings. Otherwise, it will not appear in the list.


    Screenshot_2019-04-10_IP_address_203_0_113_2_on_the_interface_eth0_-_Plesk_Onyx_17_8_11_2_.png

Comments

9 comments

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  • Avatar
    Usta (Edited )

    Hi,

    I don't know why but the website is offline with no reason. It was working before.

    I checked the IP address page and it's working, it's showing default Plesk page.
    I tried to login FTP via same IP address and it's working.
    Preview page of the IP address is working. It's showing the website.
    DNS addresses are correct.

    But;
    E-mail is not working
    Website is not loading

    No connect at all. It was all working a few days ago.

    What should I do at this situation?

    Thanks in advance.

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  • Avatar
    Julian Bonpland Mignaquy

    @Usta, The fact that the website shows the default page is a general error. Please open a support ticket with us so we can investigate thoroughly: https://support.plesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/213608509-How-to-submit-a-request-to-Plesk-support-

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  • Avatar
    Baruch Fishman

    When I do this it takes me to the location that the standard dns server points to rendering my hosts file useless

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  • Avatar
    Lev Iurev

    @Baruch Fishman it is the option when the site is not propagated yet

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  • Avatar
    Baruch Fishman

    This issue was resolved.  As it turns out, my isp was doing some kind of intercept on the host header.

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  • Avatar
    Ivan Postnikov

    Baruch Fishman

    Thank you for letting us know.

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  • Avatar
    Mario Fadegnon (Edited )

    I can  see my website through the preview. When I type in my browser, it doesn't work, even after editing /etc/hosts file on my machine.

    DNS  records are also already done

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  • Avatar
    Mikhail Shport

    Hello Mario Fadegnon,

    The issue can have several causes. Please open a support ticket with us so we can investigate thoroughly.

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  • Avatar
    Kundukundu Simões

    @Mario, could you solve your problem? How?
    We have the same issues. After making a migration with Plesk Migrator, and after editing /etc/hosts (MacBook Air), it works for one domain but not for the other 5 domains...

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