When Parrot Linux is installed on a computer, it always names that computer, parrot
. That can be very confusing if you have Parrot installed on more than one computer, or you want to have a different name for the computer than the default name. During installation, Parrot does not currently allow the user to specify a specific host name during any part of the installation.
There are two ways to change the host name. Since Parrot is Debian-based, and Debian using Systemd for startup and system processes, Systemd commands can be used, The “new fangled way.” You can always use the “old fashioned way,” which requires editing the /etc/hosts
and /etc/hostname
files. Either method produces the same result.
The New Fangled Way
Changing the host name using Systemd commands is a two-step process.
- Open
Root Terminal
(accessible through theMenu
->System Tools
). - Enter
hostnamectl set-hostname NAME
where NAME is the new name for your computer. - Close your terminal session, and your computer has been renamed without even having to reboot it. You can check this by opening a new terminal session. Looking at the prompt, you’ll see the new host name.
The Old-Fashioned Way
Changing the host name is very easy, but you do have to be careful that that you make sure you don’t assign a name that is currently used on the network. You will have to edit two system files: /etc/hosts
and /etc/hostname
.
- Open
Root Terminal
(accessible through theMenu
->System Tools
). - Enter the root password when prompted.
- On the command line, enter
pluma /etc/hosts
. You can use any other editor that is on your system if you do not want to use pluma. - Locate the line that contains:
127.0.1.1 parrot
where hostname is the current name of the computer,parrot
. - Change host name to whatever you want. You can use letters, numbers, and dash (hyphen).
- Save the
/etc/hosts
file and exit pluma. - On the command line, enter
pluma /etc/hostname
. - Look for the line that has
parrot
. - Change the host name to whatever you want, but it must be identical to the name you used in
/etc/hosts
. - Save the
/etc/hostname
file and exit pluma. - Exit
Root Terminal
. - Once you reboot your computer, you should see the new name when you open a terminal session or browsing devices on your network.
If you have any comments or notice any error(s) in these instructions, please feel
free to contact me.Barbara
Updated 7-17-18: Edited to add hostnamectl instructions.
Barb, I was wondering if you could help me with a sweater for a military friend overseas? Thanks! -T
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