How do I disable HTTP HOST being sent?

[Karma]

Hey all :)

I need to try and replicate an error on a site, but I'm not sure how to do it.

When "HTTP_HOST" is not set (which comes from the browser IIRC) the site errors.

How can I test this? I need to disable this HTTP_HOST value being sent but can't see where I can do this in IE/Firefox etc.

[physics]

Hi Karma. This post may be helpful to you:
HTTP_HOST vs SERVER_NAME [webmasterworld.com]

[Karma]

Thanks physics, didn't really help though.

I'm trying to find a way of stopping the HTTP_HOST being sent by the browser.

I'm slightly suspicious that someone/something is sending these requests at my server with malicious intent (either way, I need to amend the code to cope with it being empty).

[pinterface]

You can make FF/IE not send the HTTP Host: header by using the IP address of your website. Other options are to use either a program meant to do that sort of thing (e.g., a perl script), or do it manually.

For the manual process, do something like fire up Hyperterminal, connect to your-site.example.com, port 80, turn on local echo (so you can see what you're doing), and type in the HTTP request. e.g.,

GET / HTTP/1.0<return>
<return>

or

GET /your/page.html HTTP/1.0<return>
Host: happy.days.are.here.again<return>
<return>

You'll then get to see the entire response from your webserver, headers and all.

[phranque]

you can filter http request headers with the Modify Headers 0.6.1 [modifyheaders.mozdev.org] add-on for firefox.