I have a MikroTik Router providing DHCP to the various networks on my homelan. Each device seems to get a regular host name collision, and so the router appends a number to the end of the existing host name. My computer is currently called “Machine-8272537”. I tried fixing it a few times, setting different timeout/lease time parameters and disabling “privacy protection” on the devices, but nothing fixes it. Been like this 3 years now. I just kinda ignore it.

I hope you don’t mind my asking; what’s the nature of the peer pressure to participate you’re facing?

Not necessarily the direction you had in mind - for whatever it may be worth; I’m studying to become a HVAC technician.

I’m nearly 30 years into my tech career. After 3 months of the rigmarole of trying to get a new role post layoff, I’ve decided to throw in the hat. Love tech and comp sci, cannot face another asinine call about “non-regrettable attrition”, “more with less”, “right way to do scrum” — nor solve a pangram, design a parking garage or other leet code challenges just to get 2 hours into a 9 hour interview cycle. I’m so dammed tired. And apparently needed a little rant. Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide to do next!