hostname

 

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 HOSTNAME(1)         Linux Programmer's Manual         HOSTNAME(1)
 
 
 
NAME
        hostname - show or set the system's host name
        domainname - show or set the system's NIS/YP domain name
        dnsdomainname - show the system's DNS domain name
        nisdomainname - show or set system's NIS/YP domain name
        ypdomainname - show or set the system's NIS/YP domain name
        nodename - show or set the system's DECnet node name
 
 
SYNOPSIS
        hostname [-v] [-a] [--alias] [-d] [--domain] [-f] [--fqdn]
        [-i]  [--ip-address]  [--long]  [-s] [--short] [-y] [--yp]
        [--nis] [-n] [--node]
 
 
        hostname [-v] [-F filename] [--file filename] [hostname]
 
 
        domainname [-v] [-F filename] [--file filename] [name]
 
 
        nodename [-v] [-F filename] [--file filename] [name]
 
 
        hostname [-v] [-h] [--help] [-V] [--version]
 
 
        dnsdomainname [-v]
        nisdomainname [-v]
        ypdomainname [-v]
 
 
DESCRIPTION
        Hostname is the program that is used to either set or dis­
        play  the current host, domain or node name of the system.
        These names are used by many of the networking programs to
        identify  the  machine.  The  domain  name is also used by
        NIS/YP.
 
 
    GET
NAME
        When called without any arguments,  the  program  displays
        the current names:
 
 
        hostname  will print the name of the system as returned by
        the gethostname(2) function.
 
 
        domainname, nisdomainname,  ypdomainname  will  print  the
        name  of  the  system  as returned by the getdomainname(2)
        function. This is also known as the YP/NIS domain name  of
        the system.
 
 
        nodename  will print the DECnet node name of the system as
        returned by the getnodename(2) function.
 
 
        dnsdomainname will print  the  domain  part  of  the  FQDN
        (Fully  Qualified  Domain  Name). The complete FQDN of the
        system is returned with hostname --fqdn.
 
 
    SET
NAME
        When called with one argument or with the  --file  option,
        the  commands set the host name, the NIS/YP domain name or
        the node name.
 
 
        Note, that only the super-user can change the names.
 
 
        It is not possible to set the FQDN or the DNS domain  name
        with the dnsdomainname command (see THE FQDN below).
 
 
        The  host  name  is  usually set once at system startup in
        /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1 or /etc/init.d/boot (normally by  read­
        ing  the  contents of a file which contains the host name,
        e.g.  /etc/hostname).
 
 
    THE FQDN
        You can't change the FQDN (as returned by hostname --fqdn)
        or the DNS domain name (as returned by dnsdomainname) with
        this command. The FQDN of the system is the name that  the
        resolver(3) returns for the host name.
 
 
        Technically: The FQDN is the name gethostbyname(2) returns
        for the host name returned  by  gethostname(2).   The  DNS
        domain name is the part after the first dot.
 
        Therefore  it  depends  on  the  configuration (usually in
        /etc/host.conf) how you can change  it.  Usually  (if  the
        hosts  file is parsed before DNS or NIS) you can change it
        in /etc/hosts.
 
 
 
OPTIONS
        -a, --alias
               Display the alias name of the host (if used).
 
        -d, --domain
               Display the name of the DNS domain. Don't  use  the
               command  domainname  to  get  the  DNS  domain name
               because it will show the NIS domain  name  and  not
               the DNS domain name. Use dnsdomainname instead.
 
        -F, --file filename
               Read  the  host  name from the specified file. Com­
               ments (lines starting with a `#') are ignored.
 
        -f, --fqdn, --long
               Display the FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain  Name).  A
               FQDN  consists  of  a  short  host name and the DNS
               domain name. Unless you are using bind or  NIS  for
               host  lookups  you  can change the FQDN and the DNS
               domain name (which is part  of  the  FQDN)  in  the
               /etc/hosts file.
 
        -h, --help
               Print a usage message and exit.
 
        -i, --ip-address
               Display the IP address(es) of the host.
 
        -n, --node
               Display  the  DECnet  node  name. If a parameter is
               given (or --file name ) the root can also set a new
               node name.
 
        -s, --short
               Display  the short host name. This is the host name
               cut at the first dot.
 
        -V, --version
               Print version information on  standard  output  and
               exit successfully.
 
        -v, --verbose
               Be verbose and tell what's going on.
 
        -y, --yp, --nis
               Display  the  NIS  domain  name.  If a parameter is
               given (or --file name ) then root can  also  set  a
               new NIS domain.
 
FILES
        /etc/hosts
 
AUTHOR
        Peter Tobias, <tobias@et-inf.fho-emden.de>
        Bernd  Eckenfels,  <net-tools@lina.inka.de>   NIS(and man­
        page).
        Steve Whitehouse,  <SteveW@ACM.org>  (DECnet  support  and
        manpage).
 
 
 
 
 net-tools                  28 Jan 1996                HOSTNAME(1)

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