Computer Science
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 1
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