In this section, you’ll change your server hostname by using a command line utility and by editing the /etc/hosts file. Follow the steps below to update the hostname.

1. To update the hostname, use the hostnamectl command.
   console

   $ sudo hostnamectl set-hostname prod-web-eu
   

   Replace prod-web-eu with your desired hostname. Hostnames should contain only letters, numbers, and hyphens. They must not contain spaces or special characters.

   Note

   If the command above returns no output, it means the change was applied. The command updates the static hostname, ensuring it persists after reboots.

2. Update the /etc/hosts file.
   console

   $ sudo nano /etc/hosts
   

3. Modify the line starting with 127.0.1.1 and update it to reflect the new hostname.
   ini

   127.0.1.1 prod-web-eu
   

   Save and exit the file. Updating the /etc/hosts file ensures that the system and local applications can resolve the new hostname to the server’s loopback IP address.

    

    

    

   Change the Hostname by updating /etc/hostname

   In this section, you’ll update the hostname of your Ubuntu server by manually editing the configuration files. This method is useful in minimal environments where tools like hostnamectl may not be available. By modifying the /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts files, you can ensure that the hostname change persists across reboots and is recognized by local services.

   1. Open the /etc/hostname file.
      console

      $ sudo nano /etc/hostname
      

   2. Replace the existing name with your new hostname.
      ini

      prod-web-eu
      

      Replace prod-web-eu with your preferred hostname. Valid hostnames may contain only lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens. Avoid spaces or special characters.

   3. Update the /etc/hosts file.
      console

      $ sudo nano /etc/hosts
      

   4. Modify the line starting with 127.0.1.1 and update it to reflect the new hostname.
      ini

      127.0.1.1 prod-web-eu
      

      Save and exit the file. This ensures that local applications and system processes can resolve the hostname using the loopback IP address. The new hostname takes effect only after a reboot, as the system reads the /etc/hostname file during startup.

      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.
         console

         $ sudo reboot
         

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

         $ hostname
         

         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.