Change Hostname on FreeBSD

Supported Versions

This guide applies to FreeBSD 12 and earlier.

Introduction

When creating a new FastyCloud VPS, you can set the Server Hostname before deployment. If you skip this step or decide to rename your server later, you’ll discover that changing the server hostname from the Customer Portal also performs a fresh reinstall of the entire server.

Follow this guide if you need to change the server hostname without reinstalling.

Examples

This guide uses olddog for the old hostname and newtricks for the new hostname.

1. Check the Current Hostname

Check the hostname with hostname.

$ hostname
olddog

2. Change Hostname

Change the hostname to newtricks using a text editor:

1. Change all occurrences of the old server name to the new server name in /etc/rc.conf.
2. Change all occurrences of the old server name to the new server name in /etc/hosts.

3. Confirm the Change

1. Reboot the server.
2. Test your change with hostname.

   $ hostname
   newtricks
   

Update DNS

Your server hostname is changed and ready to use. This procedure does not change your DNS name, and you’ll need to perform those steps at your domain registrar.