avahi-set-host-name

avahi-set-host-name [hostname]

hostname
    The desired hostname to be set. If omitted, the command will try to read the existing hostname. The hostname must be a valid DNS hostname.

The avahi-set-host-name command allows you to set the system's hostname to a specific name, propagating this change through the Avahi mDNS/DNS-SD service. This is especially useful in environments where dynamic hostname resolution is desired, allowing devices on the local network to easily discover the host by its Avahi-advertised name, rather than relying solely on static DNS entries or manually configured hosts files. This command effectively integrates hostname management with Avahi, ensuring that changes are immediately reflected in network advertisements.
This makes the host discoverable under the specified name on the local network via mDNS.

This command requires Avahi to be running on the system. It typically requires root privileges to change the system's hostname.

The command returns 0 on success, and a non-zero value on failure, for example if Avahi is not running or if the hostname change fails.

Setting a hostname can potentially create conflicts if the chosen hostname is already in use on the network. It is essential to ensure that the chosen hostname is unique to avoid naming collisions.

The avahi-set-host-name command was developed as part of the Avahi project to provide a simple utility for managing hostnames in conjunction with Avahi's mDNS/DNS-SD functionality. Its primary usage revolves around making hostname changes discoverable and propagating those changes seamlessly across a local network relying on Avahi for service discovery. It is often found in embedded systems or environments where DHCP and mDNS are used for address and service resolution.

hostname(1), avahi-daemon(8), avahi-resolve(1)