Configuring the windows host file to correctly use the loopback adapter for Oracle product installations

This procedure is required when installing Oracle products such at the Oracle Database or Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition on a host machine that uses DHCP.  Follow the steps to configure a loopback adapterand then:

  1. Open the host file under c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc using notepad
  2. Identify your computer’s host name by right clicking on My Computer, selecting properties and clicking on the computer name tab Identify your computers host name by right clicking on My Computer, selecting properties and clicking on the computer name tab
  3. On the first line of your host file add a link between the static IP address you assigned your loopback adapter and your computer’s host name, for example: # IP                 hostname.domain        hostname 10.10.10.35    virtualXP.acme.com virtualXP
  4. On the second line associate the same static IP with the localhost default alias, for example: 10.10.10.35 localhost.localdomain    localhost

Once you have completed these steps you can proceed with the next steps in your Oracle product installation. If you find this post useful please or Share our site! This procedure is required when installing Oracle server products such at the Oracle Database or Oracle Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition on a host machine that uses DHCP.  Follow the steps to configure a loopback adapter and then the steps outlined on this article…

Configuring a new loopback adapter in windows


  1. Start > Control Pannel> Add  Hardware
  2. Click next on the Welcome screen
    Click next on the Welcome screen
  3. When ask if you have connected your hardware, specify yes
    When ask if you have connected your hardware, specify yes
  4. In the next dialog select Add new hardware device
    In the next dialog select Add new hardware device
  5. On the following screen select Network Adapters
    On the following screen select Network Adapters
  6. Select Microsoft > Microsoft Loopback Adapter from the list
    Select Microsoft > Microsoft Loopback Adapter from the list
  7. Select next in the following screen to install your loopback adapter
    Select next in the following screen to install your loopback adapter
  8. Click finish to complete this section of the installation process
    Click finish to complete this section of the installation process
  9. Find your newly created adapter by going to Start > Control Panel > Network Connections
    Find your newly created adapter by going to Start > Control Panel > Network Connections
  10. Right click your new connection and select Properties
  11. Select the Internet Protocol on the second section of the screen and click properties
    Select the Internet Protocol on the second section of the screen and click properties
  12. In the IP properties dialog configure a static IP address following the example belowIP Address: 10.10.10.35 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
    In the IP properties dialog configure a static IP address following the example belowIP Address: 10.10.10.35 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0

Once you have configured a static IP address you will have completed the configuration of your new loopback adapter.

For instructions on configuring your hosts file to correctly use your loopback adapter when installing Oracle products see this post.

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This short reference article will guide readers through the configuration process for a loopback adapter, this is a pre-requisite for most Oracle server software installs…