---
title: Configuring a hostname
intro: We recommend setting a hostname for your appliance instead of using a hard-coded IP address.
redirect_from:
  - /enterprise/admin/guides/installation/configuring-hostnames/
  - /enterprise/admin/installation/configuring-a-hostname
  - /enterprise/admin/configuration/configuring-a-hostname
versions:
  enterprise-server: '*'
topics:
  - enterprise
---

If you configure a hostname instead of a hard-coded IP address, you will be able to change the physical hardware that {% data variables.product.product_location %} runs on without affecting users or client software.

The hostname setting in the {% data variables.enterprise.management_console %} should be set to an appropriate fully qualified domain name (FQDN) which is resolvable on the internet or within your internal network. For example, your hostname setting could be `github.companyname.com.` We also recommend enabling subdomain isolation for the chosen hostname to mitigate several cross-site scripting style vulnerabilities. For more information on hostname settings, see [Section 2.1 of the HTTP RFC](https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1123#section-2).

{% data reusables.enterprise_installation.changing-hostname-not-supported %}

{% data reusables.enterprise_site_admin_settings.access-settings %}
{% data reusables.enterprise_site_admin_settings.management-console %}
{% data reusables.enterprise_management_console.hostname-menu-item %}
4. Type the hostname you'd like to set for {% data variables.product.product_location %}.
  ![Field for setting a hostname](/assets/images/enterprise/management-console/hostname-field.png)
5. To test the DNS and SSL settings for the new hostname, click **Test domain settings**.
  ![Test domain settings button](/assets/images/enterprise/management-console/test-domain-settings.png)
{% data reusables.enterprise_management_console.test-domain-settings-failure %}
{% data reusables.enterprise_management_console.save-settings %}

After you configure a hostname, we recommend that you enable subdomain isolation for {% data variables.product.product_location %}. For more information, see "[Enabling subdomain isolation](/enterprise/{{ currentVersion }}/admin/guides/installation/enabling-subdomain-isolation/)."