I have a production site for which I need to create a dev version. 

1.  I downloaded the dnn system and installed it on my dev machine (4.8.3).  But I'm not clear how this is getting (whether it's getting) used.

2.  I then created a backup of the production database and restored to my local machine. 

3.  I copied all the files for the site to my local machine.  So this would include older versions of the DNN framework (it is 4.4.0, I think).

4.  I set up the site in IIS.

5.  So then I went to the site http://localhost/mysite and it redirected to my production site.  So that's a start.

6.  Then I went in and changed the portalalias from the production url to http://localhost/mysite.

7.  Now, in firefox, I get the  following message.  In IE, it just says it can't get to the page.

"The page isn't redirecting properly

Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete.
    *   This problem can sometimes be caused by disabling or refusing to accept
          cookies."

Am I on the right track?  Help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Ok, so I went back and deleted the site in IIS, the database and the files that comprise the site.  then I

1.  copied files from production

2.  created database and restored backup

3.  created IIS virtual directory for 'mysite'.  Pointed at directory from production

4.  Changed web.config database connection string

5.  Added user to database and gave permission to schema

6.  Changed alias in portal alias table to localhost/mysite

I still get the same issue.

How do I debug this?

I fixed it by doing something I found in another forum.  I changed to

    <trust level="Full" originUrl=".*" />

Can anyone explain why this worked and what it does?

Thanks!