Changing the hostname on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

February 4, 2020

Note

This post may be partially machine- or AI-translated. If there is any discrepancy, the Korean version takes precedence.

This is how to change the hostname on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.

Check the current hostname

Check the currently configured hostname.

$ hostnamectl

Result
The string after Static hostname: is the current hostname.

buffashe@ubuntu:~$ hostnamectl
   Static hostname: ubuntu
         Icon name: computer-vm
           Chassis: vm
        Machine ID: 90e7fb5479a64e678d0e81c987f49dd9
           Boot ID: 4df6f5dd0fb64df2a7a876a3114a29c4
    Virtualization: oracle
  Operating System: Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS
            Kernel: Linux 4.15.0-76-generic
      Architecture: x86-64
buffashe@ubuntu:~$

Edit cloud.cfg

Edit /etc/cloud/cloud.cfg.
(This allows hostnamectl to run set-hostname.)

$ sudo nano /etc/cloud/cloud.cfg

Change preserve_hostname: true to preserve_hostname: false, then save.

Restart systemd-logind.service.

$ sudo systemctl restart systemd-logind.service

Change the hostname

Use hostnamectl to change the hostname.

$ sudo hostnamectl set-hostname [new hostname]

Result

buffashe@ubuntu:~$ sudo hostnamectl set-hostname buffashe-vm
[sudo] password for buffashe:
buffashe@ubuntu:~$ hostnamectl
   Static hostname: buffashe-vm
         Icon name: computer-vm
           Chassis: vm
        Machine ID: 90e7fb5479a64e678d0e81c987f49dd9
           Boot ID: 4df6f5dd0fb64df2a7a876a3114a29c4
    Virtualization: oracle
  Operating System: Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS
            Kernel: Linux 4.15.0-76-generic
      Architecture: x86-64
buffashe@ubuntu:~$

Reboot the system to finish changing the hostname.

$ sudo reboot now

Last updated on May 2, 2026

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