For When You Can't Have The Real Thing
[ start | index | login ]
start > Fedora > Server > 30 > Set Hostname To VM Name

Set Hostname To VM Name

Created by dave. Last edited by dave, 4 years and 112 days ago. Viewed 965 times. #1
[edit] [rdf]
labels
attachments
(2019-11-28)

Problem

/t

Solution

For whatever reason, the vmware-tools package (and the open-vm-tools corresponding package) does not expose the name of the vm to the vm. Weird. You can, however, set your own value in the vm properties and then query it yourself later.

So for example, before installing the OS in my vm, I edit the settings for it and go:

  • VM Options
  • Advanced
  • Configuration Parameters
  • Edit Configuration
  • Click Add Parameter
  • as the key, set something like guestinfo.xdroop.hostname and the for the value use the short name of your vm like wiki
  • I believe that the key has to start in the guestinfo space, but after that it is up to you.
Then after OS installation (and patching and open-vm-tools installation), you can do something like this:

#!/bin/bash

if [ -f /etc/.notAVM ] ; then exit fi if [ -x /usr/bin/vmtoolsd ] ; then if [ `cat /etc/hostname` = 'localhost.localdomain' ] ; then MyName=`/usr/bin/vmtoolsd --cmd "info-get guestinfo.xdroop.hostname"` if [ "$MyName" != "No value found" ] ; then hostnamectl set-hostname $MyName MyNetDevice=`nmcli connection show --active | grep -v UUID | sed -e 's/^.*ethernet//' | awk '{print $1}'` if [ -f /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-$MyNetDevice ] ; then echo "DHCP_HOSTNAME="$MyName"" >> /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-$MyNetDevice fi if [ -x /usr/bin/nmcli ] ; then nmcli con modify "System $MyNetDevice" ipv4.dhcp-hostname $MyName fi fi else touch /etc/.notAVM fi fi

This should work on anything that uses Network Mangler and hostnamectl (which I believe is a systemd gig?) Obviously you'll have to change this if your key (above) is different and if your VM has more than one network connection then you'll have some massaging to do. It's worked for me on CentOS 7/8 and Fedora 30/31 so far.

no comments | post comment
This is a collection of techical information, much of it learned the hard way. Consider it a lab book or a /info directory. I doubt much of it will be of use to anyone else.

Useful:


snipsnap.org | Copyright 2000-2002 Matthias L. Jugel and Stephan J. Schmidt