title: Local device testing issues with xip.io
body: <p>Related to the unresolved question at <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11546356/xip-io-with-mamp-pro-doesnt-work">xip.io with MAMP Pro doesn&#39;t work</a>
  This is a real head-scratcher with not much supporting documentation online. After 7 hours of fruitless research, I'm turning to you guys. Please help!</p>
  
  <p>The goal: locally test websites that I have developed on my MacBook with other devices (phone/tablet) on my network. I want to use virtual hosts so that I can access different sites by unique name. e.g. localhost.dev, local.timreader.com etc
  I'm attempting to use the xip.io service to assist. And I'm running Mamp Pro V2 as the server.</p>
  
  <p>So first of all, what <em>is</em> working:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>The virtual hosts, as set up in Mamp Pro, on my local machine </li>
  <li>The  xip.io address on my local machine /sometimes/ resolves but not
  always    e.g localhost.x.x.x.x.xip.io </li>
  <li>Direct access to    the    webserver root from devices e.g.
  <a href="http://x.x.x.x" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://x.x.x.x</a></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>And what <em>isn't</em> working:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Accessing the website via the xip.io address from non-local devices
  (locahost.x.x.x.x.xip.io/)</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>I'm on Mountain Lion (have re-enabled the Web Sharing preference - which Apple hid - and tried it both on and off - I think off is correct? Although I'm confused as to how that impacts access from external machines).</p>
  
  <p>Willing to try anything and everything so all ideas welcome!</p>