title: What is the point of adding "IP domain.tld" to the ( /etc/hosts ) file if the server is not gonna be used as a mail server?
body: <p>For a domain name to work.. it's DNS servers simply need to point it to the correct IP.</p>
  
  <p>once the domain tries to connect to the IP</p>
  
  <p>the server simply uses the APACHE configuration to determine what to do with the domain
  based on what is in the </p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;VirtualHost *:80&gt;
  &lt;/VirtualHost&gt;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>for the <code>ServerName</code>, <code>ServerAlias</code> etc.</p>
  
  <p>so if i decide not to set up a mail server, then i never have to bother adding</p>
  
  <pre><code>IP domain.tld
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>to the <code>/etc/hosts</code> file ?</p>
  
  <p>i suppose <code>/etc/hosts</code> file only needs a <code>IP domain.tld</code> if there is a mail server setup?</p>