4 ms·

I am not understanding why the machine name could not be changed when it's purpose changed? Is an immutable name unique to that environment?

tolien 7y ago
Because you'd probably also change the SMB or DNS name for the machine when you rename it, and that opens a can of worms where you try to work out what's using that reference and change everything that matters. Now renaming the machine is a multi-day thing involving configuration changes (and that assumes it's not hard coded anywhere) to a whole bunch of software; inevitably you'll miss some and it'll break. Easier not to bother.
- cortesoft 7y ago
  If something else is still referencing the old machine, it means you aren't changing its purpose but only adding to it. I would imagine a change of purpose would normally be a reprov.
  - jolmg 7y ago
    Changes can be gradual. I know a server that was named after a single service the machine was set-up for. Then later across a span of time, more services needed to be added. They're unrelated services, but circumstances necessitated them being installed on this server. Then even later, the original service ceased to be used and was shut-down. Changing the name might imply changing references in other services that make reference to this server for the current services that are still running. It might also imply changing bookmarks in the machines of the users of the services still running on this server. The bookmarks are a concern because many users don't know how to do anything with bookmarks other than clicking on them, so you can't depend on them understanding how to edit the URLs of these bookmarks. Yes, that's depressing.
deleted 7y ago
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teddyh 7y ago
RFC 1178 answers this: However, let me add that if you later decide to change a name (to something sensible like you should have chosen in the first place), you are going to be amazed at the amount of pain awaiting you. No matter how easy the manuals suggest it is to change a name, you will find that lots of obscure software has rapidly accumulated which refers to that computer using that now-ugly name. It all has to be found and changed. People mailing to you from other sites have to be told. And you will have to remember that names on old backup media labels correspond to different names.
xorcist 7y ago
It is a good idea not to re-use host names. Otherwise you may encounter soft fails if the old name is still accessible, especially in systems outside of your control. If there are certificates generated it will also guarantee that they can not be re-used. So it is a good rule of thumb in larger organizations.

tolien 7y ago

Because you'd probably also change the SMB or DNS name for the machine when you rename it, and that opens a can of worms where you try to work out what's using that reference and change everything that matters. Now renaming the machine is a multi-day thing involving configuration changes (and that assumes it's not hard coded anywhere) to a whole bunch of software; inevitably you'll miss some and it'll break. Easier not to bother.

cortesoft 7y ago
If something else is still referencing the old machine, it means you aren't changing its purpose but only adding to it. I would imagine a change of purpose would normally be a reprov.
- jolmg 7y ago
  Changes can be gradual. I know a server that was named after a single service the machine was set-up for. Then later across a span of time, more services needed to be added. They're unrelated services, but circumstances necessitated them being installed on this server. Then even later, the original service ceased to be used and was shut-down. Changing the name might imply changing references in other services that make reference to this server for the current services that are still running. It might also imply changing bookmarks in the machines of the users of the services still running on this server. The bookmarks are a concern because many users don't know how to do anything with bookmarks other than clicking on them, so you can't depend on them understanding how to edit the URLs of these bookmarks. Yes, that's depressing.

deleted 7y ago

[deleted]

teddyh 7y ago

RFC 1178 answers this: However, let me add that if you later decide to change a name (to something sensible like you should have chosen in the first place), you are going to be amazed at the amount of pain awaiting you. No matter how easy the manuals suggest it is to change a name, you will find that lots of obscure software has rapidly accumulated which refers to that computer using that now-ugly name. It all has to be found and changed. People mailing to you from other sites have to be told. And you will have to remember that names on old backup media labels correspond to different names.

xorcist 7y ago

It is a good idea not to re-use host names. Otherwise you may encounter soft fails if the old name is still accessible, especially in systems outside of your control. If there are certificates generated it will also guarantee that they can not be re-used. So it is a good rule of thumb in larger organizations.