Often time developers have to create a new design for an existing website on a new server. However, they regularly face the challenging task of access this new URL without switching over the DNS that points to it.

There are three ways to mitigate this issue:

1. Create a subdomain of the main site such as staging.sitename.com and use it on the new server. Once ready to migrate, change the account from staging.sitename.com to sitename.com

2. In Windows, MAC or Linux, there is a file known as the HOSTS file. Download Host File Editor such as https://hostsfileeditor.codeplex.com/

3. In Google Chrome, you can install "Virtual Hosts" Extension from https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/virtual-hosts/aiehidpclglccialeifedhajckcpedom


Using any of the above 3 methods will help you to view a website on an IP address or server without pointing the DNS to that server.