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At 12:32 PM 2/21/02 -0500, John Valenti wrote: >I was just wondering if anybody has come up with a good scheme to name >computers? > >Naming them after the "owner" doesn't work out too well - that changes too >often. >Naming them after the location also doesn't work too well - too much moving. I encourage people to name computers after their favorite study organism or anything of that sort. It helps give the computer a personality such that it's sometimes easy for both them and us to remember. If someone says they're having a problem with computer MONARDA, ORCONECTES, or VOLVOX, I know without having to look it up which one they're talking about. If they say they're having a problem with ABCPC11, I usually have to look it up. For new "public" or common-use computers, I sometimes run a quick "name the computer" contest. Some groups use names based on the initials of the principal investigator. For example, John Edward Doe will have computers JEDPC1, JEDPC2, ... JEDPC11. I don't like those as well, but if it helps the lab keep its stuff organized, it's fine with me. There are a couple of rules, though, to ensure uniqueness. 1. The name stays with the computer forever. Even if the computer moves, or changes owners, that name has to stay with it. If a lab decides it didn't like its naming system and wants to rename all its computers, tough. The old ones aren't allowed to have their names changed. I also encourage people to stamp the computer's name over every stray piece of documentation or hardware that comes with the computer. Some do this more faithfully than others. But when a computer changes hands, it's helpful to know what needs to go with it. 2. No re-using of old names, even if the old name was on a computer that has since gone to MSUsalvage-heaven. I don't usually allow people to use an old IP address for a replacement computer, either. I assign a new one and throw the old one back into the pool of unused addresses for a while. It keeps us honest in keeping our records up to date. John Gorentz W.K. Kellogg Biological Station