Hostname Naming Conventions

Overview

A hostname naming convention ensures consistency, clarity, and scalability in IT infrastructure. The naming scheme follows a structured format that includes the function, location, and serial number of a host.

Example Hostname Structure

hcluster3-web1.sjc.sl.example.net

Breakdown of the Example

  • hcluster3 – Cluster identifier
  • web1 – Server type and serial number
  • sjc – Location code (San Jose, CA)
  • sl – Site-specific identifier
  • example.net – Domain name

Naming Categories

Primary Host Functions

A hostname’s function is specified using a standard set of abbreviations. The serial number follows the function abbreviation.

Function Description
app Application Server (non-web)
sql Database Server
ftp SFTP Server
mta Mail Server
dns Name Server
cfg Configuration Management (Puppet, Ansible, etc.)
mon Monitoring Server (Nagios, Sensu, etc.)
prx Proxy/Load Balancer (software)
ssh SSH Jump/Bastion Host
sto Storage Server
vcs Version Control Software Server (Git, SVN, CVS, etc.)
vmm Virtual Machine Manager
web Web Server

Special Device Naming

Certain devices have unique designations to indicate their specialized function.

Device Description
con Console/Terminal Server
fwl Firewall
lbl Load Balancer (physical)
rtr L3 Router
swt L2 Switch
vpn VPN Gateway
pdu Power Distribution Unit
ups Uninterruptible Power Supply

Complete Naming Scheme Examples

Example 1

crimson.example.com.         A       192.0.2.11
crimson.lan.example.com.     A       10.0.2.11
crimson.oob.example.com.     A       10.42.2.11
web01.prd.nyc.example.com.   CNAME   crimson.example.com.

Example 2

melody.example.com.          A       192.0.2.12
melody.lan.example.com.      A       10.0.2.12
melody.oob.example.com.      A       10.42.2.12
web02.prd.nyc.example.com.   CNAME   melody.example.com.

Example 3

verona.example.com.          A       192.0.2.13
verona.lan.example.com.      A       10.0.2.13
verona.oob.example.com.      A       10.42.2.13
cfg01.prd.nyc.example.com.   CNAME   verona.example.com.
mon01.prd.nyc.example.com.   CNAME   verona.example.com.
puppet.example.com.          CNAME   verona.example.com.
nagios.example.com.          CNAME   verona.example.com.

Example 4

benji.example.com.           A       192.0.2.104
benji.lan.example.com.       A       10.0.2.104
benji.oob.example.com.       A       10.42.2.104
web01.dev.pdx.example.com.   CNAME   benji.example.com.
martinlutherkingsr.melblanc.kugupu.stevejob.kenkesey.music.filmhistory.calligraphy.example.com   CNAME   benji.example.com.

Conclusion

A structured hostname naming convention simplifies system management, troubleshooting, and automation. By following this standardized approach, organizations can maintain consistency across their IT infrastructure.

0%