Can't change hostname

[Ramones]

Hi

I have an itanium64 BL860c blade server that I want to change the hostname. After changing hostnames a million times, still I have problems once...so I've changed the hostname on /etc/hosts and /etc/rc.config.d/netconf files, then reboot...when it comes up, the hostname is the original one (before change). I even tried to change with set_parms (no sucess). When set_parms displays the hostname it is the one I've changed, but when I enter hostname it is the old one...what should I do now? Any help?

Thanks,
R

[Torsten.]

"set_parms" should do it, unless you did not confirm the change.
Can you please capture the session while running set_parms?

[Ramones]

[lxhp820:/] set_parms hostname
_______________________________________________________________________________
For the system to operate correctly, you must assign it a unique
system name or "hostname". The hostname can be a simple name
(example: widget) or an Internet fully-qualified domain name
(example: widget.region.mycorp.com).

A simple name, or each dot (.) separated component of a domain name, must:

* Start with an uppercase or lowercase letter.
* End with a letter or digit.
* Contain only letters, digits, underscore (_), or dash (-).
The underscore (_) is not recommended.
* Contain no more than 63 characters per component.
* Contain no more than 255 total characters.
* Each dot (.) separated component of a domain name, can start
with a digit.

NOTE: The first or only component of a hostname should contain no more
than 8 characters and the full hostname should contain no more
than 63 characters for maximum compatibility with HP-UX software.

The current hostname is lxhp820o.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Enter the system name, then press [Enter] or just press [Enter]
to retain the current host name (lxhp820o): lxhp820o

You have chosen lxhp820o as the name for this system.
Is this correct?

Press [y] for yes or [n] for no, then press [Enter] y
_______________________________________________________________________________

Working...
_______________________________________________________________________________

[Torsten.]

The current hostname is lxhp820o.
...
Enter the system name, then press [Enter] or just press [Enter]
to retain the current host name (lxhp820o): lxhp820o



But you specify the same name, right?

[Torsten.]

>> The current hostname is lxhp820o.


The "." is part of the output, not part of the hostname.


I cannot see you changing anything ...

[Ramones]

Yes, because that's the name I want (it was just to reinforce the idea) .
Even though set_parms displays the new hostname, when I give the command "hostmame" the old hostname is displayed. That's why this is wierd...


Regards,
R

[Torsten.]

So you maybe set the "wrong" name somewhere in your startup scripts (profile?), e.g.

hostname

or

export HOSTNAME=other_host_name

Check this!

[Wilfred Chau_1]

did you reboot after renaming the host with set_parms?

[Patrick Wallek]

Do you have any backup copies of the netconf file in /etc/rc.config.d? If so, move them elsewhere.

You can have backup copies of files in /etc/rc.config.d but the names have to conform to very specific standards. I find it easier to avoid having unnecessary files in /etc/rc.config.d.

[Bob_Vance]

Set host name
## hostname goodname

Check host name
## hostname
goodname

If second command returns "goodname", then we know that that works.

Now, if the name is changing after some time or after a reboot to badname, then we know that some script *probably* is changing it.
((It is possible that someone/thing is remoting in and changing it, of course.
))
Try finding that script via something like:

## find /etc /sbin/init.d \
/var/spool/cron/crontabs \
/usr/local/bin \
-type f -exec grep -i -l badname {} \;


This will give the list on of filenames that have "badname" in them.
You can then peruse each one and see what it is doing.


bv