Display Hostname in htop Header on Ubuntu

This guide explains how to view and manage the system hostname within the htop process viewer header on Ubuntu. While htop typically displays the hostname automatically, understanding the header configuration ensures it remains visible during system monitoring. We will cover how to access the setup menu and verify header settings to maintain clear machine identification.

Install and Launch htop

Before configuring the display, ensure htop is installed on your Ubuntu system. Open your terminal and run the following command to install the package if it is not already present:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install htop

Once installed, launch the application by typing htop and pressing Enter.

Locate the Hostname

By default, htop displays the system hostname in the top-left corner of the interface within the header section. It usually appears on the first line alongside the uptime and load average metrics. If you see this information, no further configuration is required.

Configure Header Settings

If the hostname is not visible, the header layout may need adjustment via the setup menu. Follow these steps to verify the configuration:

1. Press the F2 key to open the Setup menu.
2. Navigate to the Display options section.
3. Ensure that the header meters are not obscured by other settings. While there is no specific toggle for the hostname, ensuring the header area is active allows the default hostname display to render.
4. Use the arrow keys to review available meter configurations if you are using htop version 3.0 or higher, which allows more granular header customization.

Save Configuration

After verifying the settings, press F10 or Esc to exit the Setup menu. To make any layout changes permanent, htop automatically saves the configuration to the htoprc file located in ~/.config/htop/. You can now monitor your system with the hostname clearly visible in the header.