Personalizing Your Server Identity
When you manage multiple servers, telling them apart at a glance is essential. The FREAKHOSTING VPS Control Panel at cloud.freakhosting.com lets you customize two things: the display name (the label you see in the panel) and the hostname (your server’s identity on the network). Both are configured from the same settings dialog, and it takes less than a minute.Difficulty
Beginner
Time
2 Minutes
Finding the Settings Icon
On the server’s Overview page, look at the top-left area where your server name is displayed. Directly below the name, you will see three small icons arranged in a row:- Circular arrow (restart shortcut)
- Lock icon (rebuild protection)
- Gear icon (settings — this is what you want)
Changing Your Server Name and Hostname
Navigate to Your Server
Click on Servers in the top navigation bar, then click Manage next to the server you want to rename.
Open the Settings Dialog
On the server’s Overview page, click the gear icon (the third small icon below the server name, on the right side of the icon row). A settings dialog will appear.
Update the Server Name
In the Server Name field, type the new display name for your server. This name is what you see throughout the control panel — on the server list, the Overview page, and in navigation.Pick a name that instantly tells you what the server is for. Some examples:
production-web— your live website serverdev-environment— a development and testing boxminecraft-server— a game serverclient-projectname— a server managed for a client
Set the Hostname (Optional)
In the Hostname field, enter the desired hostname for your server. The hostname is the system-level identity that your server uses on the network — it shows up in your terminal prompt, log files, and network communications.Common hostname formats include:
server.yourdomain.com(fully qualified domain name — best practice)vps-01.example.comweb-prod-us
Understanding the Difference
The server name and hostname serve very different purposes. Here is how they compare:| Setting | What It Is | Where It Appears | When It Takes Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Server Name | A display label in the control panel | Server list, Overview page, navigation | Immediately after saving |
| Hostname | The system-level network identity of your server | Terminal prompt, log files, network communications | On next rebuild, or manually via SSH |
The Server Name change takes effect instantly — you will see it update across the control panel right away. The Hostname, however, is a system-level setting. It is stored and will be applied the next time the server is rebuilt. If you need the hostname to take effect immediately without rebuilding, you can change it manually from within the operating system via SSH (see the FAQ below).
Real-World Scenarios
| Scenario | What to Change |
|---|---|
| You manage 5 servers and keep mixing them up | Update the Server Name on each to something descriptive like web-prod, web-staging, db-primary, etc. |
| You are setting up a mail server and need a proper FQDN | Set the Hostname to mail.yourdomain.com — mail servers rely heavily on hostname for authentication (SPF, DKIM, rDNS) |
| A client project is done and you are repurposing the server | Change the Server Name to reflect its new purpose so you do not accidentally work on the wrong server |
| You just deployed a fresh server and want to personalize the terminal prompt | Set the Hostname and apply it via SSH so your terminal shows root@myserver instead of a random default |
Pro Tip: Naming Conventions
If you manage more than a couple of servers, establishing a consistent naming convention saves headaches down the road. A good format includes the role, environment, and optionally a number:web-prod-01— first production web serverdb-staging-01— staging database serverapp-dev— development application servervpn-gateway— VPN gateway server
Can I change the server name at any time?
Can I change the server name at any time?
Yes, you can update the display name as often as you like. It is purely a label within the control panel and has zero effect on your server’s operation, uptime, or connectivity.
How do I set the hostname without rebuilding?
How do I set the hostname without rebuilding?
You can change the hostname directly within your server’s operating system via SSH. On Linux, run:On Windows, go to System Properties > Computer Name > Change. The change takes effect immediately (or after a reboot on Windows).
Does the hostname need to be a valid domain?
Does the hostname need to be a valid domain?
No, the hostname does not need to be a registered domain name. However, using a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) like
server.yourdomain.com is considered best practice — especially for mail servers and services that rely on hostname resolution, reverse DNS, and SSL certificates.What happens if two servers have the same name?
What happens if two servers have the same name?
The control panel will allow it, since the display name is just a label. However, it defeats the purpose of renaming. Each server has a unique internal ID regardless, but giving two servers the same name will make your life harder when managing them. Use distinct names.
Need Extra Help?
If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:- Live Chat: Quick assistance via our website.
- Support Ticket: Open a Ticket
- Discord: Join our Community
- Email: support@freakhosting.com
Last Updated: March 2026 | VPS Support: Server naming simplified.