How to Set Hostname on Your VPS

Prerequisites

Before changing your hostname, make sure you have:

• SSH access to your VPS (username: hxroot)
• Your server IP address and root password
• A desired hostname (e.g., web01.yourdomain.com or myserver)

What is a Hostname?

A hostname is a label that identifies your server on the network. It appears in your command prompt and helps identify the server in logs and network communications.

Method 1: Change Hostname via Command Line (SSH)

Step 1: Connect to Your VPS

ssh hxroot@YOUR_SERVER_IP -p 22

Step 2: Check Current Hostname

hostname

Also check the full hostname:

hostname -f

Step 3: Change Hostname Temporarily

hostname new-hostname

Example:

hostname web01.hostxpeed.com

This change is temporary and will reset after reboot.

Step 4: Change Hostname Permanently

For Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname new-hostname

Example:

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname web01.hostxpeed.com

For CentOS/Rocky/AlmaLinux:

hostnamectl set-hostname new-hostname

Step 5: Edit /etc/hosts File (Important)

Open the hosts file:

nano /etc/hosts

Find the line with 127.0.1.1 or your server IP and update it:

127.0.0.1   localhost
127.0.1.1   web01.hostxpeed.com   web01

Or with your server IP:

YOUR_SERVER_IP   web01.hostxpeed.com   web01

Step 6: Verify Changes

hostname

hostname -f

hostnamectl

Method 2: Change Hostname via Hostxpeed Portal

Some VPS plans allow hostname changes through the portal:

1. Log in to your Hostxpeed Client Area at https://server.softileo.com
2. Go to My Services
3. Click on your VPS service
4. Look for a Hostname or Server Name field
5. Click Edit or Change
6. Enter your new hostname and save
7. Reboot your server for changes to take effect

Hostname Naming Conventions

Good hostname examples:

• web01.hostxpeed.com (Web server #1)
• db01.hostxpeed.com (Database server #1)
• mail.hostxpeed.com (Mail server)
• hostxpeed-vps-01 (Simple VPS name)

Hostname rules:

• Use only letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), and hyphens (-)
• Cannot start or end with a hyphen
• Maximum 63 characters per label
• Can include dots for FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name)

Apply Changes Without Rebooting

To apply the new hostname to your current session:

exec bash

Or log out and back in:

exit

Then reconnect:

ssh hxroot@YOUR_SERVER_IP -p 22