The host name or computer name is usually at system startup in /etc/hostname file. Open the terminal application and type the following commands to set or change hostname or computer name on Ubuntu Linux.

Where does hostname get set in Linux?

The hostname value in /etc/hosts is often set to localhost by default. With this context in mind, here are all the different ways to manipulate a hostname on Linux. [ Free download: Advanced Linux commands cheat sheet. ]

How do I change the hostname in Linux?

Changing the Hostname

To change the hostname invoke the hostnamectl command with the set-hostname argument followed by the new hostname. Only the root or a user with sudo privileges can change the system hostname.