Which Linux command prints or sets the system hostname?

Which Linux command prints or sets the system hostname?

• A. Ping
• B. Hostname
• C. Ifconfig
• D. Route

Answer: (B)

This question tests knowing the command that handles the system’s host name. The command that prints or sets the system hostname is the hostname command. When run with no arguments, it prints the current host name. When you provide a new name, it changes the host name for the current session (and on many systems you’ll need elevated privileges to set it). For example, you can print the current hostname by simply typing the command. To set a new hostname for the current session, you’d run something like sudo hostname new-hostname. If you want the change to persist after reboot, you typically update system-specific configuration, such as /etc/hostname or use a tool like hostnamectl on modern systems. The other options don’t manage the host name: ping checks reachability to a host, ifconfig configures network interfaces, and route shows the routing table.

This question tests knowing the command that handles the system’s host name. The command that prints or sets the system hostname is the hostname command. When run with no arguments, it prints the current host name. When you provide a new name, it changes the host name for the current session (and on many systems you’ll need elevated privileges to set it).

For example, you can print the current hostname by simply typing the command. To set a new hostname for the current session, you’d run something like sudo hostname new-hostname. If you want the change to persist after reboot, you typically update system-specific configuration, such as /etc/hostname or use a tool like hostnamectl on modern systems.

The other options don’t manage the host name: ping checks reachability to a host, ifconfig configures network interfaces, and route shows the routing table.