Why doesn't node.name default to hostname

[stefws (Steffen Winther Sørensen)]

Trying to add a new node to a cluster only it doesn't seem to default node.name to hostname but rather a random string. Shouldn't it default to hostname?

[2019-07-12T10:55:05,152][INFO ][o.e.n.Node               ] [_u9qFWr] started
[root@es-i1 elasticsearch]# hostname
es-i1

[DavidTurner]

It depends which version you are using. Defaulting node.name to the hostname was added in 7.0

Core: Default node.name to the hostname

Prior to 7.0 it uses a prefix of the persistent node ID by default.

[stefws (Steffen Winther Sørensen)]

Okay thanks, I'm on 6.8.1, that figures then, it's just a nicer feature in 7 as it's a hazzle not to be able to share config file for multiple nodes.

[DavidTurner]

You can use environment variables in the config file to achieve the same effect:

node.name:    ${HOSTNAME}