What is the difference between hostname , computername , localhostname

[Gokulkrish]

Hi all ,

I want to know the difference between OS X "hostname , computername , localhostname" .


Which name can be used to ssh into the machine ?

Using which name I can ping the machine ?

Which name is used by DNS to resolve host ?

I would appreciate your assistance ...





Thanks ,
Gokul

 

[gsahli]

Those should all be the same.
For ssh and ping and other DNS access, it depends on your DNS server. Do you have one on your local network, for instance? I don't have one on mine, so I can't use the machine's hostname to access it. I have to use IP address.

Maybe you need to explain the circumstances better?

 

[Gokulkrish]

Yes , I have one local DNS configured .

It is using Mac's ComputerName (i.e) name in the Sharing System preference pane .If it is so , what is the use of hostname & localhostname( sudo scutil --get HostName) ???

In my environment , I can ping & ssh a machine using Computer name but not with hostname .

 

[gsahli]

OK, I think some DHCP servers give HostName if ComputerName isn't already set. I get "not set" for HostName, and "liberty" for LocalHostName.
I have a line in my /etc/hosts file like this:
127.0.0.1 localhost liberty

 

[Gokulkrish]

So, I assume like , one can ping or ssh a local machine using its computername .

Hostname of a mac machine is useless.???

 

[gsahli]

Hostname of a mac machine is useless.???

Ya, I'd say it's useless because it's unknown.