How to Set Hostname, Timezone, and Date on RHEL, CentOS, Rocky, Alma Linux

Introduction

Configuring your server’s hostname, timezone, and system date is an essential first step for Linux server administration. Whether you use RHEL, CentOS, Rocky Linux, or Alma Linux, these settings ensure logs are accurate and networking works as expected. This guide walks you through each configuration—fast and secure.

Prerequisites

• Root or sudo access
• Linux system (RHEL, CentOS, Rocky, or Alma Linux)
• Internet connection (for time sync)

Step 1: Set or Change Hostname

Check the current hostname:

hostnamectl

Set a new hostname (replace yourserver.example.com):

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname yourserver.example.com

To make sure it’s set, re-run hostnamectl or reboot.

Update /etc/hosts for local resolution (recommended):

sudo nano /etc/hosts
# Add or edit this line:
127.0.0.1   yourserver.example.com yourserver localhost

Step 2: Set the Timezone

See available timezones:

timedatectl list-timezones | less

Set your preferred timezone (e.g. Europe/Stockholm):

sudo timedatectl set-timezone Europe/Stockholm

Verify the change:

timedatectl status

Step 3: Set or Sync System Date and Time

To sync date and time with NTP servers:

sudo timedatectl set-ntp true

If you need to set manually (not recommended):

sudo date --set="2025-07-27 10:30:00"

Check the current date/time:

date

Step 4: (Optional) Install chrony for Robust NTP Sync

sudo dnf install -y chrony
sudo systemctl enable --now chronyd
timedatectl status

Conclusion

Setting your hostname, timezone, and system date is foundational for Linux administration. These quick commands will ensure your server is ready for production and easy troubleshooting. For more guides, visit Holhol24!