How to change the hostname in linux

Hi,
I am trying to change the host name of a linux machine.
I have modified /etc/hosts as follows :

127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost
##< IP ADDRESS> <OLD HOSTNAME>
<IP ADDRESS> <NEW HOSTNAME>

/etc/nsswitch.conf is modified as follows :
#hosts: db files nisplus nis dns
##hosts: files nisplus dns
hosts: files


/etc/sysconfig/network
##HOSTNAME=<OLD_HOSTNAME>
HOSTNAME=<NEW_HOSTNAME>

Then I have executed these on the shell :
hostname <new_HOSTNAME>

service xinetd restart


After executing these steps, my machine is not taking the new
hostname.
If I execute
#hostname

I get hostname as (none)

Can anyone tell me what is that which I am missing here.

Thanks in Advance!

On Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:16:59 -0700 (PDT), guddu wrote:
> Hi,
> I am trying to change the host name of a linux machine.

With 300+ linux distributions, you may want to read
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Always helps to provide which distribution, version and maybe which
desktop manager you are running. Those may get you more detailed
answers to your problem.

> I have modified /etc/hosts as follows :
>
> 127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost
> ##< IP ADDRESS> <OLD HOSTNAME>
><IP ADDRESS> <NEW HOSTNAME>
>
> /etc/nsswitch.conf is modified as follows :
> #hosts: db files nisplus nis dns
> ##hosts: files nisplus dns
> hosts: files
>
>
> /etc/sysconfig/network
> ##HOSTNAME=<OLD_HOSTNAME>
> HOSTNAME=<NEW_HOSTNAME>
>
> Then I have executed these on the shell :
> hostname <new_HOSTNAME>

If /etc/sysconfig/network controls hostname then running
hostname <new_HOSTNAME>
should have no impact on next reboot. Then again, you may have just
overrode normal operation of assigning hostname during boot.


> service xinetd restart

That should have not modified anything. If /etc/sysconfig/network controls
hostname, then restarting the network might change it, might not.

Anytime I change a host name, I reboot so that all services depending
on the name will be restarted.

> Can anyone tell me what is that which I am missing here.

Not me, without know exactly which distribution you are running.

I recommend a reboot based lack of information provided.

On Jun 23, 6:16*am, guddu <visha...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi,
> I am trying to change the host name of a linux machine.
> I have modified /etc/hosts as follows :
>
> 127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost
> ##< IP ADDRESS> <OLD HOSTNAME>
> <IP ADDRESS> <NEW HOSTNAME>
>
> /etc/nsswitch.conf is modified as follows :
> #hosts: * * db files nisplus nis dns
> ##hosts: * * *files nisplus dns
> hosts: * * *files
>
> /etc/sysconfig/network
> ##HOSTNAME=<OLD_HOSTNAME>
> HOSTNAME=<NEW_HOSTNAME>
>
> Then I have executed these *on the shell :
> hostname <new_HOSTNAME>
>
> service xinetd restart
>
> After executing these steps, my machine is not taking the new
> hostname.
> If I execute
> #hostname
>
> *I get hostname as (none)
>

I have a procedure which always works:
hostname new_hostname
hostname > /etc/hostname


Regards
Artur

guddu <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:

> Hi,
> I am trying to change the host name of a linux machine.
> I have modified /etc/hosts as follows :
>
> 127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost
> ##< IP ADDRESS> <OLD HOSTNAME>
> <IP ADDRESS> <NEW HOSTNAME>
>
> /etc/nsswitch.conf is modified as follows :
> #hosts: db files nisplus nis dns
> ##hosts: files nisplus dns
> hosts: files

Unless all the Internet and local host names you need are stored in
/etc/hosts, this won't work very well.

I suggest:

hosts: files dns

> /etc/sysconfig/network
> ##HOSTNAME=<OLD_HOSTNAME>
> HOSTNAME=<NEW_HOSTNAME>
>
> Then I have executed these on the shell :
> hostname <new_HOSTNAME>
>
> service xinetd restart
>
>
> After executing these steps, my machine is not taking the new
> hostname.
> If I execute
> #hostname
>
> I get hostname as (none)
>
> Can anyone tell me what is that which I am missing here.

It's hard to say. What Linux distribution have you installed?

Scott
--
Scott Hemphill (E-Mail Removed)
"This isn't flying. This is falling, with style." -- Buzz Lightyear