The Internet uses your hostname as a label by which to identify your physical server. This interface allows you to change your server's hostname.
Important:
- Do not select a hostname that begins with
wwwor a number, or that ends with a hyphen (-). - You must use a fully-qualified domain name (FQDN) that contains two periods (for example,
hostname.example.com). - Do not choose a hostname that a cPanel account on your server will use.
Notes:
- Do not select a socially-unacceptable hostname. The hostname will appear in mail headers.
- Only use lowercase, Latin-script letters in hostnames.
The system displays your current hostname under the Current Hostname heading.
How to change your hostname
Note:
Whenever you change the server's hostname, you must use one of the following methods:
- Enter the new hostname in the Setup Networking section of WHM's Initial Setup Wizard interface.
- Use WHM's Change Hostname interface (Home >> Networking Setup >> Change Hostname).
- Call WHM API 1's
sethostnamefunction. - Run the
/usr/local/cpanel/bin/set_hostnameutility as therootuser.
These methods ensure that all of the necessary system and service changes occur.
Important:
If you update your hostname, the system blocks user access to the following interfaces and services:
- Horde Webmail
- Calendars and Contacts (CalDAV/CardDAV)
The system restores access to these interfaces and services after the hostname update completes. For more information, read our Interface Lock Scripts documentation.
- To change your hostname, perform the following steps:
-
Enter the new hostname into the New Hostname text box.
Remember:
Your new hostname must meet the following requirements:- It is a FQDN.
- It is registered with a registrar.
- It follows the instructions in the Instructions section.
- Click Change. A popup window will appear that prompts you to add an A entry.
- Click Add An A Entry for your hostname.
- Review the information about your server and, if it is correct, click Add Entry.
The system will automatically configure the new hostname and add the correct A entry.
Note:
- When you change your hostname, the system preserves the old hostname so that currently-running services can function in a consistent environment until you reboot the server.
- If you must change your hostname for non-cPanel configuration files or services, these services continue to function until you manually adjust them.
- If you use External Authentication, you must update the Redirection URI settings in the configuration settings at the external authentication provider's site to reflect the new hostname.
