How do I rename a LINUX host without needing to reboot for the rename to take effect?












2















I searched for an answer to this question on serverfault and shockingly could not find it. I know it is possible, but I can't remember how to fdo it. How do I change a LINUX host's hostname and get that change to take effect without a reboot?



I am using Ubuntu 16 and Ubuntu 18.



A big feature of Ubuntu is the graphical desktop and graphical system utilities. However, we are running Ubuntu in our production environment so we chose not to use the graphical desktop or utilities in order not to have those features consume resources we need in our production environment.



I know that to rename the host, I edit the files:




  • /etc/hostname

  • /etc/hosts


In the /etc/hostname one just replaces the current hostname (soon to be former hostname) with the new hostname.



Ubuntu in the /etc/hosts file has the line:



127.0.1.1 your-hostname your-hostname


It acts as bootstrapping while your host is booting up and establishing itself within your network. Prior to changing the hostname, your-hostname is the current (soon to be former hostname) and as a part of changing your host's hostname, one replaces that name with the new name.



What I am familiar with is executing the above two steps and then rebooting your host. But plenty of times, like with a production server, one would like to execute that rename, but not reboot one's host.



How can I change hostname on a host and get that change to take effect without rebooting the host?










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  • I think you meant rebooting when you wrote "bounce". This is a worldwide site; that bit of slang is not understood outside very small niches and it's probably best to avoid it.

    – Michael Hampton
    2 hours ago


















2















I searched for an answer to this question on serverfault and shockingly could not find it. I know it is possible, but I can't remember how to fdo it. How do I change a LINUX host's hostname and get that change to take effect without a reboot?



I am using Ubuntu 16 and Ubuntu 18.



A big feature of Ubuntu is the graphical desktop and graphical system utilities. However, we are running Ubuntu in our production environment so we chose not to use the graphical desktop or utilities in order not to have those features consume resources we need in our production environment.



I know that to rename the host, I edit the files:




  • /etc/hostname

  • /etc/hosts


In the /etc/hostname one just replaces the current hostname (soon to be former hostname) with the new hostname.



Ubuntu in the /etc/hosts file has the line:



127.0.1.1 your-hostname your-hostname


It acts as bootstrapping while your host is booting up and establishing itself within your network. Prior to changing the hostname, your-hostname is the current (soon to be former hostname) and as a part of changing your host's hostname, one replaces that name with the new name.



What I am familiar with is executing the above two steps and then rebooting your host. But plenty of times, like with a production server, one would like to execute that rename, but not reboot one's host.



How can I change hostname on a host and get that change to take effect without rebooting the host?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Peter Jirak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





















  • I think you meant rebooting when you wrote "bounce". This is a worldwide site; that bit of slang is not understood outside very small niches and it's probably best to avoid it.

    – Michael Hampton
    2 hours ago
















2












2








2








I searched for an answer to this question on serverfault and shockingly could not find it. I know it is possible, but I can't remember how to fdo it. How do I change a LINUX host's hostname and get that change to take effect without a reboot?



I am using Ubuntu 16 and Ubuntu 18.



A big feature of Ubuntu is the graphical desktop and graphical system utilities. However, we are running Ubuntu in our production environment so we chose not to use the graphical desktop or utilities in order not to have those features consume resources we need in our production environment.



I know that to rename the host, I edit the files:




  • /etc/hostname

  • /etc/hosts


In the /etc/hostname one just replaces the current hostname (soon to be former hostname) with the new hostname.



Ubuntu in the /etc/hosts file has the line:



127.0.1.1 your-hostname your-hostname


It acts as bootstrapping while your host is booting up and establishing itself within your network. Prior to changing the hostname, your-hostname is the current (soon to be former hostname) and as a part of changing your host's hostname, one replaces that name with the new name.



What I am familiar with is executing the above two steps and then rebooting your host. But plenty of times, like with a production server, one would like to execute that rename, but not reboot one's host.



How can I change hostname on a host and get that change to take effect without rebooting the host?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Peter Jirak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












I searched for an answer to this question on serverfault and shockingly could not find it. I know it is possible, but I can't remember how to fdo it. How do I change a LINUX host's hostname and get that change to take effect without a reboot?



I am using Ubuntu 16 and Ubuntu 18.



A big feature of Ubuntu is the graphical desktop and graphical system utilities. However, we are running Ubuntu in our production environment so we chose not to use the graphical desktop or utilities in order not to have those features consume resources we need in our production environment.



I know that to rename the host, I edit the files:




  • /etc/hostname

  • /etc/hosts


In the /etc/hostname one just replaces the current hostname (soon to be former hostname) with the new hostname.



Ubuntu in the /etc/hosts file has the line:



127.0.1.1 your-hostname your-hostname


It acts as bootstrapping while your host is booting up and establishing itself within your network. Prior to changing the hostname, your-hostname is the current (soon to be former hostname) and as a part of changing your host's hostname, one replaces that name with the new name.



What I am familiar with is executing the above two steps and then rebooting your host. But plenty of times, like with a production server, one would like to execute that rename, but not reboot one's host.



How can I change hostname on a host and get that change to take effect without rebooting the host?







linux ubuntu hostname






share|improve this question









New contributor




Peter Jirak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




Peter Jirak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




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edited 2 hours ago









Michael Hampton

173k27317642




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asked 3 hours ago









Peter JirakPeter Jirak

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New contributor




Peter Jirak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor





Peter Jirak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Peter Jirak is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.













  • I think you meant rebooting when you wrote "bounce". This is a worldwide site; that bit of slang is not understood outside very small niches and it's probably best to avoid it.

    – Michael Hampton
    2 hours ago





















  • I think you meant rebooting when you wrote "bounce". This is a worldwide site; that bit of slang is not understood outside very small niches and it's probably best to avoid it.

    – Michael Hampton
    2 hours ago



















I think you meant rebooting when you wrote "bounce". This is a worldwide site; that bit of slang is not understood outside very small niches and it's probably best to avoid it.

– Michael Hampton
2 hours ago







I think you meant rebooting when you wrote "bounce". This is a worldwide site; that bit of slang is not understood outside very small niches and it's probably best to avoid it.

– Michael Hampton
2 hours ago












1 Answer
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You can change the kernel's idea of the hostname on a systemd-based system using the hostnamectl tool. For example:



hostnamectl set-hostname whatever


You can view the system's current idea of the hostname with:



hostnamectl             # equivalent to hostnamectl status


Keep in mind that this does not change a running process's idea of the hostname. Such a process would have to check the hostname again in order to be updated, and no process does. Thus such a process would need to be restarted. In order for every process to begin using the new hostname, they must be restarted. It's generally easier to just reboot the system than to restart every service individually.






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    1 Answer
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    active

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    2














    You can change the kernel's idea of the hostname on a systemd-based system using the hostnamectl tool. For example:



    hostnamectl set-hostname whatever


    You can view the system's current idea of the hostname with:



    hostnamectl             # equivalent to hostnamectl status


    Keep in mind that this does not change a running process's idea of the hostname. Such a process would have to check the hostname again in order to be updated, and no process does. Thus such a process would need to be restarted. In order for every process to begin using the new hostname, they must be restarted. It's generally easier to just reboot the system than to restart every service individually.






    share|improve this answer




























      2














      You can change the kernel's idea of the hostname on a systemd-based system using the hostnamectl tool. For example:



      hostnamectl set-hostname whatever


      You can view the system's current idea of the hostname with:



      hostnamectl             # equivalent to hostnamectl status


      Keep in mind that this does not change a running process's idea of the hostname. Such a process would have to check the hostname again in order to be updated, and no process does. Thus such a process would need to be restarted. In order for every process to begin using the new hostname, they must be restarted. It's generally easier to just reboot the system than to restart every service individually.






      share|improve this answer


























        2












        2








        2







        You can change the kernel's idea of the hostname on a systemd-based system using the hostnamectl tool. For example:



        hostnamectl set-hostname whatever


        You can view the system's current idea of the hostname with:



        hostnamectl             # equivalent to hostnamectl status


        Keep in mind that this does not change a running process's idea of the hostname. Such a process would have to check the hostname again in order to be updated, and no process does. Thus such a process would need to be restarted. In order for every process to begin using the new hostname, they must be restarted. It's generally easier to just reboot the system than to restart every service individually.






        share|improve this answer













        You can change the kernel's idea of the hostname on a systemd-based system using the hostnamectl tool. For example:



        hostnamectl set-hostname whatever


        You can view the system's current idea of the hostname with:



        hostnamectl             # equivalent to hostnamectl status


        Keep in mind that this does not change a running process's idea of the hostname. Such a process would have to check the hostname again in order to be updated, and no process does. Thus such a process would need to be restarted. In order for every process to begin using the new hostname, they must be restarted. It's generally easier to just reboot the system than to restart every service individually.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 2 hours ago









        Michael HamptonMichael Hampton

        173k27317642




        173k27317642






















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