Purpose of knowledge article

Discuss the differences between the 3 types of names that a macOS has: ComputerName, LocalHostname, and HostName

Resolution

ComputerName

• To see the ComptueName:
  • On the menu bar, click the Apple icon >>> System Preferences or System Settings >>> Sharing >>> Computer Name
  • In the Terminal application, run the command hostname
  • In the Terminal application, run the command sudo scutil --get ComputerName
• To set the ComputerName:
  • On the menu bar, click the Apple icon >>> System Preferences or System Settings >>> Sharing >>> Computer Name
  • In the Terminal application, run sudo scutil --set ComputerName "newname"
• Use for identifying Apple computers on the local network

LocalHostName (Local Hostname)

• To see the LocalHostname:
  • On the menu bar, click the Apple icon >>>  System Preferences or System Settings >>> Sharing >>> Edit >>> Loacl Hostname
  • In the Terminal application, run the command hostname 
  • In the Terminal application, run the command sudo scutil --get LocalHostName
• To set the LocalHostName:
  • On the menu bar, click the Apple icon >>>  System Preferences or System Settings >>> Sharing >>> Edit >>> Loacl Hostname
  • In the Terminal application, run sudo scutil --set LocalHostName "newname"
• Another name is local network name
• Use for identifying Apple computers on the local network 
• Use by Bonjour-compatible services
• Usually is the same as ComputerName with .local added at the end

HostName

• To see the Hostname:
  • In the Terminal application, run the command sudo scutil --get HostName
• To set the HostName:
  • In the Terminal application, run sudo scutil --set HostName "newname"
• The HostName is provided by the DHCP server that the Apple computer connects to
• Typically not set by the user and best not to set it
• Use by outside the local network (external network/Internet) to identify Apple computers