[NTLUG:Discuss] Hosts.deny working?

[David Simmons]

Guys,

I've been using my /etc/hosts.deny file very thoroughly
lately to block access from 'the bad guys'.

I have an entry in
/etc/hosts.deny:

ALL:  217.

but I keep seeing
IP's in the 217.* range in my /etc/log/http/access_log file trying to
access files on my server.  So I think:

1) 
/etc/hosts.deny  is not working  (I don't have any 217.
references in hosts.allow that would supercede)

2)  217.*
is making the request, but the /hosts/deny file is stopping it from
accessing the file...but making the log entry anyways

3) 
I'm crazy

......since I can't test from a 217.* IP address - I
don't know how I can test to see if things are working?

Any
thoughts (other than - Yes, it's #3!)

thanks - dave