How to Change a Hostname on Ubuntu 24.04

A hostname is a unique, human-readable name assigned to a device on a network, such as a server, computer, or IoT device. Unlike IP addresses, which are numeric and intended for machines, hostnames offer a more memorable and meaningful way to identify devices. They often reflect the device's role, location, or owner. Updating the hostname helps align with organizational standards, adhere to naming conventions and simplify device identification in multi-server environments. A clear and consistent naming system also enhances visibility in logs and monitoring tools.

This article explains how to check and update your hostname on an Ubuntu 24.04 server. You’ll learn how to view your server hostname, set a new one permanently, and ensure that the changes persist across reboots.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you need to:

• Have access to an Ubuntu 24.04 workstation as a non-root sudo user.

Verify the Active Hostname

In this section, you check the hostname of your Ubuntu server using the hostname command.

Run the below command to retrieve the hostname.

$ hostname

Your output should be similar to the one below:

vultr-server

Verify the New Hostname

In this section, you'll confirm that the hostname change was applied without errors and is now active on your server. Follow the steps below to verify the new hostname after restarting your server to apply all changes.

1. Reboot the server to apply changes.

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   $ sudo reboot

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2. To retrieve the hostname, use the hostname command.

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   $ hostname

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   Your output should be similar to the one below:

   prod-web-eu

Conclusion

You have updated the hostname on your Ubuntu 24.04 server using either the hostnamectl command or by manually editing the /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts files. This configuration ensures the hostname is persistent and resolvable by local services. A meaningful hostname enhances system log readability, streamlines server management, and helps enforce consistent naming conventions across your infrastructure.