What is Host Name?

Host Name

A host Name is a label assigned to a device connected to a computer network. It is used to identify the device uniquely within the network. Hostnames are an essential part of the Domain Name System (DNS), which translates human-readable names into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network.

Key Characteristics of a Hostname:

  1. Unique Identifier: Each device on a network should have a unique hostname to avoid confusion and ensure proper communication between devices.
  2. Human-Readable: Hostnames are designed to be easily readable and memorable for humans, unlike numerical IP addresses.
  3. Format: A Host Name typically consists of a combination of letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), and hyphens (-). It often follows a hierarchical structure, where it includes the device name and the domain name (e.g., server1.example.com).

Examples:

  • Local Hostname: This might be something simple like laptop1, office-pc, or server.
  • Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN): This includes both the Host Name and the domain name, providing a complete path to the device on the internet. For example, mail.google.com, where mail is the hostname and google.com is the domain name.

How to Change Your Server’s Hostname Using WHM?

Changing your server’s Host Name using WHM (Web Host Manager) is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Log in to WHM

  1. Open your web browser and go to your WHM login page.
  2. Enter your root username and password to log in.

Step 2: Navigate to the Hostname Section

  1. Once logged in, look for the search bar at the top left corner.
  2. Type in “Hostname” to quickly find the relevant section.
  3. Click on “Hostname” under the “Networking Setup” or “Server Configuration” section.

Step 3: Change the Hostname

  1. In the “Change Hostname” interface, you will see the current hostname.
  2. Enter the new hostname you want to use in the “New Hostname” field. Ensure it follows the format: hostname.domain.com and is fully qualified (e.g., server1.example.com).

Step 4: Save Changes

  1. Click the “Change” button to apply the new hostname.
  2. WHM will process the change, and you’ll see a confirmation message once it’s successful.

Step 5: Verify the Change

  1. After changing the hostname, it’s a good practice to verify that the change has been correctly applied.
  2. You can do this by accessing your server via SSH or reloading the WHM interface and checking the hostname section again.

Additional Steps (if necessary)

  1. Update DNS Records: Ensure that the new hostname has an appropriate DNS A record pointing to the server’s IP address.
  2. Reboot the Server: In some cases, you might need to reboot the server to apply the changes fully.

Tips:

  • Make sure the new hostname is unique and not used by another device within your network or on the internet.
  • The hostname should resolve to your server’s IP address. This can be checked with a DNS lookup tool.

By following these steps, you can successfully change your server’s hostname using WHM.