hostname

Additional Notes

hostname prints or sets the system hostname. The hostname identifies a machine in prompts, logs, local networks, and service discovery.

On systemd systems, hostnamectl is usually preferred for permanent hostname changes.

Syntax

hostname [options] [name]

Parameters

• options: Flags that change how hostname behaves.
• 'name': New hostname to set (optional).

Common Options

• -f, --fqdn: Show fully qualified domain name when available.
• -s, --short: Show short hostname.
• -d, --domain: Show DNS domain name.
• -I: Show assigned IP addresses.
• -i: Show addresses for the hostname.

Examples

hostname

Print the current hostname.

hostname -s

Print short hostname.

hostname -I

Print IP addresses assigned to the host.

sudo hostname temporary-name

Set a temporary hostname until reboot or service override.

Practical Notes

• Use hostnamectl set-hostname NAME for persistent changes on systemd.
• Hostname changes can affect logs, prompts, monitoring, and local name resolution.
• Check /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts on many distributions.