How to set up the Pretty Hostname

Introduction

A pretty hostname avoids most of the limitations of other hostname types, giving users more freedom when naming their systems.

In this tutorial, we will show you how to set up a pretty hostname for a Linux system in two different methods.

Types of hostnames

• Static hostname: The standard hostname.
• Transient hostname: A dynamic hostname set by the system kernel. It is the same as the static hostname, but DHCP and mDNS servers can change it.
• Pretty hostname: A free-form hostname to describe the system to other users within the network.

NOTE: Pretty hostnames can use any valid UTF8 symbol. on another hand, Static hostnames follow the same restrictions as Internet domain names. They have a maximum length of 64 characters and allow the use of letters, hyphens , underscores, and periods.

Set Up a Pretty Hostname

Using the hostnamectl command

• Use the hostnamectl Linux command to set up a pretty hostname with the command below:

hostnamectl set-hostname  [name] --pretty

For Example:

hostnamectl set-hostname "Unixcop Test " --pretty

• Now, Check your new hostname by using the hostnamectl

hostnamectl

Manually with editing the /etc/machine-info config file

Linux savess pretty hostnames in the /etc/machine-info config file.

NOTE: The /etc/machine-info file also contains system information, such as icon names, chassis types, deployment environment, and system location.

NOTE: Note that /etc/machine-info generates once you change one of the settings it stores. If there haven’t been any changes to these settings, this file will be absent from your system.

• Create the file if it is absent

touch /etc/machine-info

• Open the file with a text editor.

• Add the pretty hostname as shown below.

PRETTY_HOSTNAME="name"

• Save and quit

• Use the hostnamectl command to verify the new pretty hostname

hostnamectl

Conclusion

In this tutorial, We have illustrated how to set up a pretty hostname on your Linux system.

Thanks..