How to Change Server Name for Windows and Linux Server

Follow these steps to change the name of a Windows server.

Step 1.

First, you need to go to the Control Panel using the Start menu on the bottom left corner. 

This step has been illustrated in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1

Step 2.

Next, you would be required to select the System and Security option from the Control Panel

This step has been illustrated in Figure 1.2.

Figure 1.2

Step 3.

Next, you need to click on the System option on the screen.

This step has been illustrated in Figure 1.3.

Figure 1.3

Step 4.

After that, you would be required to click on the Change settings option under the Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings heading.

This step has been illustrated in Figure 1.4.

Figure 1.4

Step 5.

Next, a window will appear on the screen with the Computer Name tab open as default. Under that tab, you need to click on the Change button in order to change the server name. 

This has been illustrated in Figure 1.5.

 

Figure 1.5

Step 6.

After that, a dialog box will appear on the screen with a box under the title Computer Name. Use that box to change the name of the computer to a name of your choice. 

Step 7. 

Next, you will be required to click on the More button to change the suffix of the computer name.

This has been illustrated in Figure 1.6.

Figure 1.6

Step 8.

Once you have entered information in the necessary fields, click on the OK button to save the changes. After that a prompt will appear on the screen requesting you to restart the computer in order to apply the changes to the computer. Click on the OK button on the message prompt and restart your server. 

 

This has been illustrated in Figure 1.7.

Figure 1.7

Step 9.

Once you restart the server, the change of name will be applied to the system and you will be able to see it in the system information as illustrated in Figure 1.5.

Follow these steps to change the name of a Linux server.

Change the name for the Centos7 version of Linux:

In the Centos7 version of Linux, you are required to enter the following command in the terminal to change the name of server

“hostnamectl set-hostname your new hostname” 

Enter the command on the terminal of your server directly to make the change.

Change the name for the Ubuntu or Debian version of Linux:

In the Ubuntu or Debian version, you need to follow a two-step process to change the name of the server.

Step 1.

Run the following command in the terminal in order to get root permission to make changes to the server:

sudo -I

Step 2.

After you have received root permission for the server, you are required to enter the following command in the terminal to change the name of server:

hostnamectl set-hostname your new hostname

Enter the command on the terminal of your server directly to make the change.

Once you have successfully performed the above-mentioned steps on your Windows or Linux server, the name of the respective server will be changed.