Server Naming Conventions?

Some random reader sent in: "Hi, I'm wondering what others out there use for server naming conventions. Our data centre right now houses a little under 200 servers, with plans to grow up to 4000 servers within the next five years. We'd like to pick something flexible and easy to manage with any tracking system. The servers we'll be implementing include SUN, HPUX, and AIX servers, in addition to existing Compaq and HP Intel servers, so we'll have to adhere to limitations placed on hostnames by manufacturers (ie HPUX lets you have an 8 character hostname)." We had a similar story a few years ago.

The reader continues:

"Here's a few ideas we've been tossing around, using Joe's Deli as an example:

- [four letter "name"][two letter service type][2 numbers] eg) jdelwb03.domain.com
+ easy to determine the function and name
- hard to remember and pronounce, once you run out of four character servers, determining the name and function will be difficult. Joe's Deli and John's Delivery will have conflicting names

- [random combination of numbers and letters]
eg) ak1jop3d.domain.com
+ none really
- confusing.. really confusing. Can you imagine saying to someone "log on to alpha kappa one john omikron peter three delta?"

- [theme based name]
name servers based on a theme, eg Gundam
eg) zaku.domain.com, gelgoog.domain.com
+ easily identifiable - all Gundam names belong to Joe's Deli, easy to pronounce and remember
- hard for a new tech or management (why would they need to know?) to associate to a server

"I'd like to know what others in the tech community use for server naming policies when planning large scale data centres. Also, with data centres located nationally, does the naming convention pose any problems? Thanks."

Comments

Re:Seven Dwarfs?

[potaz]

Ha ha ha: cause Windows is sucky.

Re:themes are good

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, themes are good. For your number of servers, I suggest stars as a theme.

You can group by galaxy:
Andromeda
BlackEye
Seashell
Triangulum
NGC205
LMC
et cetera

Or you could group by constellations for smaller groups of servers:
Orion
UrsaMajor
et cetera

Or just plain stars:
Acamar
Hadar
Antares
Aldebarran
Regulu s
Vega
Pishpai
Mimosa
et cetera

You can always add in Nebulae, Comets, and Planets if you need more groups.

Of course, the downside is that you must remember which names refer to which celestial objects, but it's fun and educational! What more can you ask from a tech job?

Re:Seven Dwarfs?

[Anonymous Coward]

How about horny.goatse.cx, rough.goatse.cx, furry.goatse.cx,...

Re:Naming Conventions.

[Anonymous Coward]

free porn

Re:Seven Dwarfs?

[graveytrain]

Ha! The person who modded this a -1 as troll has obviously never used Win 3.1! :)

Re:Seven Dwarfs?

[Anonymous Coward]

not as sucky as your mom exsept when she drags her teeth and i have to slap her!

Re:Remainder?

[Anonymous Coward]

what about my remaneder on you're moms back look for whore in dictionary.com and see your mom

Re:Just to annoy the RIAA

[flacco]

You rated the post yourself by not checking "No Score +1 Bonux"

You learn something new every day. Just what is the purpose of "No Score +1 Bonus"? I've always ignored it.

Re:Check the RFC

[Anonymous Coward]

penisbird.goatse.cx

Re:That's what CNAMES are for

[Anonymous Coward]

Bursting Colon for $0

Re:Naming Conventions.

[themassiah]

Yeah, because being gay doesn't "Work" unless it's done with a lisp.

Ass.