Dear Robert.
Per "man hostname"
FILES /etc/hosts /etc/sysconfig/network
NOTE Note that hostname doesnât change anything permanently. After reboot original names from /etc/hosts are used again.
That's clear.
Do you really think one should tie the hostname to the loopback interface in the /etc/hosts file
If it's not necessary to set the hostname on the loopback interface, don't do so.
We recommend that one should not tie the actual hostname or FQDN to the loopback interface.
There are very few limited implementation or security seclusion cases where you would want to consider doing that
I have mentioned Arnt's statement on that.
It should look like this as example in /etc/hosts
127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost calimero.local
^^ -> should be: 127.0.0.1 localhost.localdomain localhost I guess.
or even: 127.0.0.1 localhost localhost.localdomain (see discussion on the Debian ML)
x.y.z.a calimero.some123domain.com calimero
if the machine is not talking to another machine via network, then the hostname doesn't really matter too much now does it?
No, it does not. For me it's just nice to see on which host I am working (even if it's local only).
Btw. Most major distributions set the hostname on the loopback interface and even old-style distributions like Slackware do so (with an advice) now.
But I agree, if you do not really need it, don't change 127.0.0.1 from localhost and either define the hostname on a static interface or DHCP assigned (or put a sticker on it ;).
Best Regards Marcus