Terminal ComputerName Variable

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Level 1

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Terminal ComputerName Variable

I am trying to write a script that lets rsync write a copy of a folder to another mount vol.

rsync -av --delete /users/shared /Volumes/BackupMM/$HOST/

This isn't writing computername to back up dir. Ideas?

Message was edited by: Bill-C

Mac Book Pro 1G, Mac OS X (10.6.5)

Posted on Apr 1, 2011 5:06 AM

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Answer 1

Mudge

Level 3

512 points

Apr 1, 2011 5:48 AM in response to Bill-C

Try $HOSTNAME

BTW, you can use the command "set" on its own to list the values of all currently defined environment variables if you want to find a specific one in the future!

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Answer 2

BobHarris

Level 9

56,933 points

Apr 1, 2011 7:56 AM in response to Bill-C

$HOSTNAME is a 'bash' specific feature. If you use a different shell for your script, then $HOSTNAME may not be available.


myHost=$(hostname -s)

will also get your hostname, and should work for all shells, as well as most Unix systems.

NOTE: $HOSTNAME and hostname -s will NOT always give you the name you set in your System Preferences -> Sharing -> Computer name. The above 2 names are obtained by asking your DNS server if they have a name for your nn.nn.nn.nn IP address. If the DNS server does not, then you get the Computer name you set. If they say yes, you could get anything.

This will get the value stored in System Preferences -> Sharing -> Computer name


myComputerName=$(networksetup -getcomputername)

By the way, Terminal, Unix, X11, and command line command, ssh, rsync, etc... questions are best asked in the Mac OS X Technologies > Unix Forum
<http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=735>

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