Mailinglist Archive: opensuse (3139 mails)
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Re: [SLE] Suse 10.1 and hostid
- From: Dave Howorth <dhoworth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2006 10:15:18 +0000 (UTC)
- Message-id: <45262CA9.5030203@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Paul Abrahams wrote:
> Just out of curiosity, what use does the hostid have?
It was originally *THE* hardware ID for a machine. Globally unique,
hardwired into the machine. MAC addresses have largely taken over this
function now nearly every machine has a network interface.
It was used for any purpose in the system that required a unique
address. This included various software packages that wanted to lock
licences to particular machines.
Over time, it became possible to change hostids, because it can simplify
replacing a failed machine, for example, in the same way it became
possible to change MAC addresses.
It's use by the system has gone away, so it's now just used by some
dinosoar software licensing systems. Some include their own programs to
generate a suitable ID.
Cheers, Dave
> Just out of curiosity, what use does the hostid have?
It was originally *THE* hardware ID for a machine. Globally unique,
hardwired into the machine. MAC addresses have largely taken over this
function now nearly every machine has a network interface.
It was used for any purpose in the system that required a unique
address. This included various software packages that wanted to lock
licences to particular machines.
Over time, it became possible to change hostids, because it can simplify
replacing a failed machine, for example, in the same way it became
possible to change MAC addresses.
It's use by the system has gone away, so it's now just used by some
dinosoar software licensing systems. Some include their own programs to
generate a suitable ID.
Cheers, Dave
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