‍Rocky Linux 8 is a popular operating system choice for many businesses due to its stability and reliability. One important task that you may need to perform is changing the hostname of your Rocky Linux 8 system. The hostname is the unique identifier for your system on a network, and it is essential to have a meaningful and easily recognizable hostname. In this article, we will guide you through the process of changing the hostname in Rocky Linux 8.

Displaying the Current Hostname

Before we dive into changing the hostname, let’s first find out the current hostname of your Rocky Linux 8 system. To do this, open a terminal and run the following command:

hostnamectl

The output will display information about your system, including the current hostname. For example:

[root@server ~]# hostnamectl
Static hostname: localhost.localdomain
Transient hostname: server
Icon name: computer-vm
Chassis: vm
Machine ID: 2836dc6f733240a0a7678564f019735c
Boot ID: 75bca30024ca42059ff73e898416924e
Virtualization: kvm
Operating System: Rocky Linux 8.3
CPE OS Name: cpe:/o:rocky:rocky:8
Kernel: Linux 4.18.0-240.22.1.el8.x86_64
Architecture: x86-64

Take note of the current hostname as we will use it later in the process.

Changing the System Hostname

Once you have identified the current hostname, you can proceed to change it. There are two methods we will explore: using the hostnamectl command and using the NetworkManager Text User Interface (nmtui).

Method 1: Using the hostnamectl Command

To change the hostname using the hostnamectl command, follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal and enter the following command, replacing new_hostname with your desired hostname:

hostnamectl set-hostname new_hostname

2. Optionally, you can also set a pretty hostname for display purposes by using the --pretty flag:

hostnamectl set-hostname "new_pretty_hostname" --pretty

3. After changing the hostname, you need to update the /etc/hosts file. Open the file using your preferred text editor:

nano /etc/hosts

4. Add an entry for the new hostname, for example:

127.0.0.1 new_hostname

5. Save and exit the file.
6. Restart the systemd-hostnamed service to apply the changes:

systemctl restart systemd-hostnamed

Method 2: Using the NetworkManager Text User Interface (nmtui)

Alternatively, you can change the hostname using the NetworkManager Text User Interface (nmtui). Follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal and enter the following command:

nmtui

2. In the nmtui interface, navigate to “Set system hostname” and press Enter.
3. Enter your desired hostname and press Enter.
4. Exit nmtui.
5. Restart the systemd-hostnamed service to apply the changes:

systemctl restart systemd-hostnamed

Verifying the Change

To ensure that the hostname has been successfully changed, you can use the hostnamectl command once again. Open a terminal and enter the following command:

hostnamectl

The output should display the new hostname, both the static and pretty versions, as well as other system information. For example:

[root@server ~]# hostnamectl
Static hostname: new_hostname
Pretty hostname: new_pretty_hostname
Icon name: computer-vm
Chassis: vm
Machine ID: 2836dc6f733240a0a7678564f019735c
Boot ID: 75bca30024ca42059ff73e898416924e
Virtualization: kvm
Operating System: Rocky Linux 8.3
CPE OS Name: cpe:/o:rocky:rocky:8
Kernel: Linux 4.18.0-240.22.1.el8.x86_64
Architecture: x86-64

Congratulations! You have successfully changed the hostname of your Rocky Linux 8 system.

Conclusion

Changing the hostname in Rocky Linux 8 is a straightforward process that can be done using either the hostnamectl command or the NetworkManager Text User Interface (nmtui). By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily set a new hostname for your system. Remember, having a meaningful and recognizable hostname is essential for managing your system efficiently.

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Christian Wells