Computer network naming scheme: Difference between revisions

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{{Refimprove|date=August 2018}}

In [[computing]], a '''naming schemesscheme''' areis oftena usedsystem for assigning and managing names of objects connected into [[computer network]]s. It typically consists of a [[namespace]] and processes for assigning, storing, and [[Name resolution (computer systems)|resolving]] names.

==Naming schemes in computing==

Server naming is a common tradition. It makes it more convenient to refer to a machine by name than by its [[IP address]].

Network naming can be hierarchical in nature, such as the [[Internet]]'s [[Domain Name System]]. Indeed, the Internet employs several universally applicable naming methods: [[uniform resource name]] (URN), [[uniform resource locator]] (URL), and [[uniform resource identifier]] (URI).

The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] named their servers after states.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itworld.com/offbeat/61750/would-server-any-other-name-be-functional|title=Would a server by any other name be as functional?|first=Josh|last=Fruhlinger|website=Itworld.com|accessdate=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411180054/http://www.itworld.com/offbeat/61750/would-server-any-other-name-be-functional|archive-date=2012-04-11}}</ref>

Naming systems have several other characteristics. The entities that assign and manage names can be [[Distributed computing|distributed]], [[centralized]], or [[hierarchical]]. Names can be human-readable or not human-readable.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ahmed |first1=R. |last2=Boutaba |first2=R. |last3=Cuervo |first3=F. |last4=Iraqi |first4=Y. |last5=Tianshu Li |last6=Limam |first6=N. |last7=Jin Xiao |last8=Ziembicki |first8=J. |date=Third Quarter 2005 |title=Service naming in large-scale and multi-___domain networks |journal=IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials |language=en |volume=7 |issue=3 |pages=38–54 |doi=10.1109/COMST.2005.1610549 |issn=1553-877X}}</ref>

Server names may be named by their role or follow a common theme such as colors, countries, cities, planets, chemical element, scientists, etc. If servers are in multiple different geographical locations they may be named by closest airport code.

== Azure ==

Such as web-01, web-02, web-03, mail-01, db-01, db-02.

On [[Microsoft Azure]] there is a naming convention to prefix applications with {{Mono|app-}}, functions app with {{Mono|func-}}, and service buses with {{Mono|sb-}}. The convention is to suffix the name with the environment {{Mono|-prod}} or {{Mono|-test}} and a number for the instance such as {{Mono|-001}}, {{Mono|-002}}, etc. Example {{Mono|app-navigator-prod-001.azurewebsites.net}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Abbreviation recommendations for Azure resources - Cloud Adoption Framework |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/ready/azure-best-practices/resource-abbreviations |website=learn.microsoft.com |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=12 May 2025 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Define your naming convention - Cloud Adoption Framework |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/ready/azure-best-practices/resource-naming |website=learn.microsoft.com |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=12 May 2025 |language=en-us}}</ref>

Airport code example:

lax-001

lax-002

arn-001

City-State-Nation example:

3-character unique number

2-character production/development classifier

3-character city ID

2-character state/province/region ID

2-character nation ID

Thus, a production server in Minneapolis, Minnesota would be nnn.ps.min.mn.us.example.com, or a development server in Vancouver, BC, would be nnn.ds.van.bc.ca.example.com.

Large networks often use a systematic naming scheme, such as using a ___location (e.g. a department) plus a purpose to generate a name for a computer.

For example, a web server in NY may be called "nyc-www-04.xyz.net".

However, smaller networks will frequently use a more personalized naming scheme to keep track of the many hosts. Popular naming schemes include trees, planets, rocks, etc.

Network naming can be hierarchical in nature, such as the [[Internet]]'s [[Domain Name System]]. Indeed, the Internet employs several universally applicable naming methods: [[uniform resource name]] (URN), [[uniform resource locator]] (URL), and [[uniform resource identifier]] (URI).

== See also ==

{{Portal|Internet}}

* [[Systematic name]]

* [[Geospatial network]]

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== External links ==

* {{IETF RFC|1178}} - "Choosing a Name for Your Computer"

* {{IETF RFC|2100}} - "The Naming of Hosts"

* [http://namingschemes.com/ Naming schemes]

* [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909264 Naming conventions in Active Directory]

* [https://www.w3.org/TR/uri-clarification/ URIs, URLs, and URNs: Clarifications and Recommendations 1.0]