Linux hostname Guide

Linux hostname Guide

Complete beginner-friendly guide to hostname on Linux, covering Arch Linux, CachyOS, and other distributions including setting hostname, viewing hostname, and system identification.

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Table of Contents

1. Understanding hostname
2. hostname Basics
3. Setting Hostname
4. Persistent Hostname
5. Troubleshooting

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Understanding hostname

What is hostname?

hostname shows or sets system hostname.

Uses:

• View hostname: Show current hostname
• Set hostname: Change system hostname
• System identification: Identify system
• Network identification: Identify on network

Why it matters:

• System identity: System identification
• Network: Network identification
• Services: Some services use hostname

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hostname Basics

View Hostname

Basic usage:

# View hostname
hostname

# Shows current hostname

FQDN

Full hostname:

# Full qualified domain name
hostname -f

# -f = FQDN

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Setting Hostname

Set Hostname

Change hostname:

# Set hostname
sudo hostname new-hostname

# Changes hostname (temporary)

Persistent Hostname

Make permanent:

# Edit hostname file
sudo vim /etc/hostname

# Or use hostnamectl
sudo hostnamectl set-hostname new-hostname

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Persistent Hostname

Using hostnamectl

Modern method:

# Set hostname permanently
sudo hostnamectl set-hostname new-hostname

# Persists across reboots

Manual Method

Edit file:

# Edit /etc/hostname
echo "new-hostname" | sudo tee /etc/hostname

# Also update /etc/hosts

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Troubleshooting

hostname Not Found

Check installation:

# Check hostname
which hostname

# Usually in inetutils
# Install if missing
sudo pacman -S inetutils

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Summary

This guide covered hostname usage, hostname management, and system identification for Arch Linux, CachyOS, and other distributions.

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Next Steps

• hostnamectl Guide - Modern hostname tool
• System Configuration - System setup
• hostname Documentation: man hostname

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This guide covers Arch Linux, CachyOS, and other Linux distributions. For distribution-specific details, refer to your distribution's documentation.