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Special Offers

What is a Hostname?

A hostname is the unique name assigned to your server, allowing it to be identified on a network. For example:

webserver-01
mail-server

Changing the hostname can help you:

Organize servers by role (e.g., database-server, app-server)
Easily identify servers in multi-server environments
Follow company naming conventions

Steps to Change Hostname in Windows

Step 1: Open System Settings

Go to Control Panel → System and Security → System.
Under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, click Change settings.

Step 2: Rename the Server

In the System Properties window, click Change.
Enter your new server name and click OK.

Step 3: Restart the Server

You will be prompted to restart the server for changes to take effect.
After restarting, your Windows Server hostname will be updated.

Related keywords: Change hostname Windows Server, Windows server rename.

Steps to Change Hostname in Linux

The easiest way to rename your Linux server is by using the hostnamectl command. The process differs slightly depending on your Linux distribution.

For CentOS 7 / 8 OS

To change the hostname in CentOS 7 or CentOS 8, use:
sudo hostnamectl set-hostname new-server-name
Then verify:

hostnamectl

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For Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04 OS

For the Ubuntu server, first gain root privileges:

sudo -i

Then run:

hostnamectl set-hostname new-server-name

Verify:

hostnamectl

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For Debian OS

For a Debian server, the steps are similar to Ubuntu:

sudo -i
hostnamectl set-hostname new-server-name

change windows server name

Keywords: change hostname Debian, Linux command to change hostname, Linux set hostname.

Final Tips

Always use lowercase letters and hyphens in hostnames (avoid spaces).
After changing the hostname, some services may need to be restarted.
For cloud servers, also check your provider’s control panel — some override hostname settings on reboot.

Outline

How to Change Hostname Ubuntu / Debian / CentOS / Windows