Naming for PCs
When you have to uniquely identify a thing, it is often useful to name it. And if the name is to have meaning, you should plan for it. Some use:
- The identifiers of Apollo lunar modules.
- Error numbers from the HTTP RFC (404 is the web server, 503 is the firewall).
- Different shades of blue.
A naming convention you shouldn't have is naming for function. Your main web server should be DNS'd as www or web, but it should also be something else, so you don't have to rename it should it be repurposed. Having your webserver named "www2" while your mail server is "www" and your news server is "mail" is just plain silly.
Doesn't the "Error numbers from the HTTP RFC" naming convention contradict the above paragraph? If the machines are repurposed, you'll end up with 404 being the firewall, 503 the web server, etc. Those numeric names seem like a bad idea in general- too much chance confuse the machine's name with an actual error number. -- AlanDavies
Here's a more functional example: at my old place of work, we existed in a large inter-connected network, so the standard convention was this:
(building abbreviation)(room number)(item type code)(number of type in that room)
I worked in the Electrical Engineering building in room 241, using a Dell Wintel box with only one other PC there, so my computer's name was <tt>ee241pc1</tt>. There was an Apple Laserjet printer I used, and that was <tt>ee241a1</tt>.
Of course, I had it changed to Deskbox, as it was the box on my desk.
Naming conventions for wiki pages
Covered elsewhere: