This project provides a set of PowerShell CmdLets that can be used to add, remove and modify entries in your system's host file. This is normally at \windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts.

The solution provided is a VS 2015 solution and builds the primary project and associated test project. I will attempt to add more build options as I have time.

Currently there is no installation script or application to install the PS assembly. There are two recommended ways to install the module:

• Manually Load as Needed - Build the project and take the resulting ManageHosts.dll and place it somewhere of your choosing. In a PowerShell command prompt you would then run, Import-Module {Path-To-Your-DLL}.
• Use PS Module Directories - Install the module in your local PS Module path. This will cause it to load for each PowerShell instance. To do this:

1. Build the solution.
2. Take the Release directory, from pshostmgr/pshostmgr/bin/Release and copy it to your {PROFILE}\Documents\WindowsPowerShell directory.
3. Rename the directory to ManageHosts for clarity.

This section details which CmdLets are provided by this module and shows, briefly, how to use them.

This will return a listing of the current host file entries.

PS> Get-HfHost

| Hostname         | Address      |
| ---------------  |------------- |
| api.domain.com   | 127.0.0.1    |
| machine.test.net | 10.0.1.25    |
| other.test.net   | 10.0.1.26    |

This list may be filtered, optionally, by hostname.

Get-HfHost -Hostname "api.domain.com","other.test.net"

| Hostname       | Address       |
| -------------  | ------------- |
| api.domain.com | 127.0.0.1     |
| other.test.net | 10.0.1.26     |

This cmdlet allows a single entry to be added to the host file. This hostname must not already be in use or an exception is thrown. Both a valid hostname and address must be provided.

PS> Add-HfHost -Hostname "test.myhost.com" -Address "10.0.2.22"

| Hostname        | Address      | Type        |
| -------------   |------------- | ----------- |
| test.myhost.com | 10.0.2.22    | HostForIPv4 |

The opposite of the add, this will remove a single entry from the host file by it's hostname. The hostname must be a valid entry or an error will be thrown.

PS> Remove-HfHost -Hostname "test.myhost.com" 

This is a shortcut method that can basically be accomplished with an Add-/Remove-. This provides the ability to just update a single destination host to a new address. The hostname must already exist and the address must be valid else an error will be thrown.

PS> Get-HfHost

| Hostname        | Address    |
| -------------   | ---------- |
| test.myhost.com | 127.0.0.1  |

PS> Set-HfHostAddress -Hostname "test.myhost.com" -Address "10.2.22.33"

PS> Get-HfHost

| Hostname        | Address      |
| -------------   | ------------ |
| test.myhost.com | 10.2.22.33   |