Change the VPS hostname on Debian 8, Debian 9, Debian 10, Debian 11

Changing the Hostname on Debian 8, Debian 9, Debian 10, and Debian 11

The hostname of your Debian system is an important identifier that helps you and others on your network identify and communicate with your server. Whether you’re setting up a new server or need to update an existing hostname, changing it on Debian 8 (Jessie), Debian 9 (Stretch), Debian 10 (Buster), or Debian 11 (Bullseye) is a relatively straightforward process. However, the method for changing the hostname has evolved with each Debian release, so let’s explore how to do it for each version.

Debian 8 (Jessie)

Step 1: Log in to Your Server

Log in to your Debian 8 server using your root or superuser credentials. You can use SSH or log in directly if you have physical access.

Step 2: Change the Hostname

To change the hostname in Debian 8, you need to edit the /etc/hostname file. You can use your preferred text editor, such as nano, vi, or vim, for this purpose:

nano /etc/hostname

Replace the existing hostname with your desired one, save the file, and exit the text editor.

127.0.0.1 newhostname
::1 newhostname

Step 3: Update the Current Hostname

Immediately apply the changes to the current hostname by running the following command, replacing newhostname with your desired hostname:

hostnamectl set-hostname newhostname

Step 4: Reboot Your System

For all services and applications to recognize the new hostname, it’s recommended to reboot your Debian 8 system:

reboot

After the system reboots, the new hostname should be in effect.

Debian 9 (Stretch)

Changing the hostname in Debian 9 is a similar process to Debian 8, but it introduces the hostnamectl command for setting the hostname.

Step 1: Log in to Your Server

Log in to your Debian 9 server using your root or superuser credentials.

Step 2: Edit the Hostname File

To change the hostname, edit the /etc/hostname file using your preferred text editor, such as nano:

nano /etc/hostname

Replace the existing hostname with your desired one, save the file, and exit the text editor.

127.0.0.1 newhostname
::1 newhostname

Step 3: Update the Current Hostname

Immediately apply the changes to the current hostname with the hostnamectl command:

hostnamectl set-hostname newhostname

Step 4: Reboot Your System

Reboot your Debian 9 system to ensure that the new hostname takes effect:

reboot

After the system reboots, your new hostname should be active.

Debian 10 (Buster)

Debian 10 maintains the hostnamectl method for changing the hostname.

Step 1: Log in to Your Server

Log in to your Debian 10 system with root or superuser privileges.

Step 2: Edit the Hostname File

Edit the /etc/hostname file to change the hostname. Use your preferred text editor, such as nano:

nano /etc/hostname

Replace the existing hostname with your desired one, save the file, and exit the text editor.

127.0.0.1 newhostname
::1 newhostname

Step 3: Update the Current Hostname

Immediately apply the changes to the current hostname using hostnamectl:

hostnamectl set-hostname newhostname

Step 4: Reboot Your System

To ensure all services recognize the new hostname, reboot your Debian 10 system:

reboot

After the reboot, the new hostname will be active.

Debian 11 (Bullseye)

Debian 11 maintains the same process as Debian 10.

Step 1: Log in to Your Server

Log in to your Debian 11 system with root or superuser privileges.

Step 2: Edit the Hostname File

Edit the /etc/hostname file using your preferred text editor, such as nano:

nano /etc/hostname

Replace the existing hostname with your desired one, save the file, and exit the text editor.

127.0.0.1 newhostname
::1 newhostname

Step 3: Update the Current Hostname

Apply the changes to the current hostname using hostnamectl:

hostnamectl set-hostname newhostname

Step 4: Reboot Your System

Reboot your Debian 11 system to ensure all services recognize the new hostname:

reboot

Following the reboot, your new hostname will be active.

In conclusion, changing the hostname on Debian 8, Debian 9, Debian 10, and Debian 11 is a straightforward process. Regardless of the Debian version, you can use the hostnamectl command and edit the /etc/hostname file to set and change the hostname of your server. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily modify your Debian system’s hostname to fit your specific needs.