hostname vs. HOSTNAME ?
 

What is the difference between issuing a hostname command, e.g.,

hostname mybox,

and changing the environment variable HOSTNAME=mybox ?


Thank you.

As far as I know the hostname command changes/reports the hostname but it will not survive a reboot - it will revert back to localhost.localdomain
The HOSTNAME variable SETS the hostname as the box boots.

Think thats right. On redhat/fedroa the file is /etc/sysconfig/network

Try it!

After experimenting, here is my GUESS:

"hostname" changes the hostname immediately, whereas "export HOSTNAME=newname" changes the env variable and would become effective on the next reboot (or login??)
If either method is used it does not affect the other.

I have not tested to see what happens on reboot....