How to Permanently Change the Hostname on Ubuntu

Learn how to permanently change the hostname on Ubuntu. Our Server Management Support team is here to help you with your questions and concerns.

How to Permanently Change the Hostname on Ubuntu

Did you know that changing the hostname on your Ubuntu system is as easy as 1-2-3 and can be done without rebooting?

Our experts have put together these steps to help you out:

1. First, we have to check the current hostname. So, open a terminal.
2. Then, run this command:

   hostnamectlCopy Code

   This command displays the current hostname along with other system information like architecture and kernel version.
3. Then, run the following command to change the hostname:

   sudo hostnamectl set-hostname newhostnameCopy Code

   Remember to replace `newhostname` with our desired hostname.

   This command changes the static (standard), transient (dynamic), and pretty (descriptive) hostnames all at once.

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4. Furthermore, we can change certain types of hostnames using additional options:
   • Static Hostname:

     sudo hostnamectl set-hostname --static newhostnameCopy Code

     
     This updates the `/etc/hostname` file with the new static hostname without changing the transient or pretty hostnames.
   • Transient Hostname:

     sudo hostnamectl set-hostname --transient newhostnameCopy Code
   • Pretty Hostname:

     sudo hostnamectl set-hostname --pretty "New Hostname"Copy Code

   Note that the pretty hostname can contain spaces and special characters, while static and transient hostnames should stick to letters, numbers, and hyphens.

5. After changing the hostname, verify it by running:

   hostnamectlCopy Code
6. If the hostname hasn’t changed, we may need to restart the `systemd-hostnamed` service:

   sudo systemctl restart systemd-hostnamedCopy Code

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Conclusion

In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to permanently change the hostname on Ubuntu.