A naming scheme is a plan for naming objects. In computing

Computing

Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...

, naming schemes are often used for objects connected into computer network

Computer network

A computer network, often simply referred to as a network, is a collection of hardware components and computers interconnected by communication channels that allow sharing of resources and information....

s.

Naming schemes in computing

Large networks often use a systematic naming scheme, such as using a location (e.g. a department) plus a purpose to generate a name for a computer.

For example, a web server in NY may be called "nyc-www-04.xyz.net".

Common Network Naming Convention:

(city-function-number.domain.name)

City Code IATA link

nyc-pdc-201.xyz.net

lon-rtr-901.xyz.net

hkg-san-541.xyz.net

mos-gpc-400.xyz.net
If you have many offices in a city distinguish the offices designate

100-199 ABC location

200-299 CDE location

...

700-799 Extranet

800-899 DMZ

900-999 Internet
gpc - General PC

prn - printer

www - webserver

dbs - database server

fps - file and print server

app - application server

fin - finanace server

swi - switch

ifw - internal firewall

efw - external firewall

rtr - router

wap - wireless ap

RFC 1178 link

However, smaller networks will frequently use a more personalized naming scheme to keep track of the many hosts. Popular naming schemes include trees, planets, rocks, etc. (aniquated)

Network naming can be hierarchical in nature, such as the Internet

Internet

The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...

's Domain Name System

Domain name system

The Domain Name System is a hierarchical distributed naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network. It associates various information with domain names assigned to each of the participating entities...

. Indeed, the Internet employs several universally applicable naming methods: Uniform Resource Names (URN

Uniform Resource Name

A uniform resource name is a uniform resource identifier that uses the urn scheme and does not imply availability of the identified resource. Both URNs and URLs are URIs, and a particular URI may be a name and a locator at the same time.The functional requirements for uniform resource names are...

), Uniform Resource Locators (URL

Uniform Resource Locator

In computing, a uniform resource locator or universal resource locator is a specific character string that constitutes a reference to an Internet resource....

), and Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI

Uniform Resource Identifier

In computing, a uniform resource identifier is a string of characters used to identify a name or a resource on the Internet. Such identification enables interaction with representations of the resource over a network using specific protocols...

). For the technically inclined, the following article is worth perusing: http://www.w3.org/TR/uri-clarification/.

External links

• RFC 1178 - "Choosing a Name for Your Computer"
• RFC 2100 - "The Naming of Hosts"
• Naming schemes