We are moving to new premises in June. We are starting to set up the new network and will be buying some new servers. One of the most important things about a server is its name, so I thought I’d ask around for some suggestions for naming these new servers. Unlike some system admins who like using a naming ‘theme’ for all their servers (homer, marge, bart, lisa etc.; or gandalf, frodo, sam, aragorn etc.), I prefer using names which are tied to the purpose of the server, although mystical or astronomical references are also liked.
We need to name:
- Firewall server: a name which suggests a security guard or a bouncer might be appropriate here;
- Email server: something relating to the real-world delivery of messages or post, perhaps. Update 19:35: Mercury is the “Messenger of the Gods”, an excellent name for an email server, but unfortunately we already have a fax server of this name;
- DHCP/DNS/VMPS server: the role of this server is harder to make a real-world analogy with. This server is responsible for the low-level, but critically important, admin and house-keeping on the network, also responsible for identifying which machines on the local network are ‘friendly’ and which are ‘alien’;
- Analysis server: this server will be used by our scientists to run statistical analyses and to write data-crunching programs.
All suggestions encouraged. I’m hoping for plenty of comments here, so I’ve switched off comment moderation for a few hours …
Obvious ones I suppose then:
Firewall: sentry or checkpoint-charlie
PermalinkEmail: postie
I usually use a thesaurus and type in the servers purpose. For example, my firewall boxes are called Sentinel, Ranger, Bouncer and Sentry.
PermalinkHow about calling it Disneyquest! That’s where we are now. It’s an indoor interactive theme park in Orlando. (Also featuring free web access)
PermalinkHello! I know some people who have used the Disney characters as server names. Maybe I should go with one of those … Trust you’re having fun out there in Florida, anyway …
Permalinkfirewall: gatekeeper; email: pigeon … ?
PermalinkYou could name them after the kind of people who do the real-world analogy of what they do:
Firewall: Bruiser
PermalinkMailserver: Postie (as suggested)
DHCP/etc: Secretary (or ‘Seccie’)
Analysis: Mathgeek
Naming schemes I’ve known people use include planets, precious stones, flowers and stars. Our main lab at uni (150 desktops) uses countries, IIRC.
Just don’t call your logging server anything like “sawmill”, or I may be forced to be violent 🙂
PermalinkFirewall: Vinnie (as in jones) or The Boss
PermalinkEmail: Postman Pat
DHCP etc: Receptionist?
Analysis: The Genius or Brains?
Got sent here by Perf. I have a set of fictional characters you could use:
Firewall: Fawkes, Dumbledore’s phoenix form Harry Potter.
Email: Pat, as in the postman (also suggested above).
DHCP, etc.: Colon, a member of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch in the Discworld books. He does the groundwork of patrolling the streets, and also has to identify friends and enemies. (Almost any member of the City Watch would do, though – others are Carrot, Angua, Detritus, Nobby and Vimes).
Analysis: Holmes, as in Sherlock.
PermalinkOoh, and another thought, based on Karen’s comment, above : your DHCP etc. server could be Carol, who’s now the receptionist in the Dilbert comic strip.
PermalinkI like to use mythic Greek & Roman figures and gods for server names:
Firewall: Terminus (Roman guardian of boundaries) or Cerberus (Greek guardian of the Underworld)
PermalinkEmail Server: Mercury (Roman messenger God) or Hermes (Greek messenger god and god of commerce)
DHCP/DNS/VMPS server: Hestia (Greek) / Vesta (Roman) Goddess of the Hearth and Home
Analysis: Apollo – Greek and Roman god of prophesy
Firewall: Bruno (sounds tough)
e-mail: Pixie (sounds friendly although at times mischievous and is native to your land)
DHCP: Rosie (Jetson’s robot maid)
Analysis: Holly (Red Dwarf computer)
just trying to be helpful and add to the diversity
PermalinkThanks for all the suggestions everyone – much appreciated.
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