Abstract: In a method for automatically naming hosts, a cluster controller receives unique identifiers (UIDs) from multiple hosts. In response to receiving the UIDs, the cluster controller causes the multiple hosts to produce ready signals. The cluster controller then receives user input (e.g., an indication that a floppy disk has been inserted into a floppy disk drive) from a first host among the multiple hosts. In response to receiving the user input from the first host, the cluster controller associates a first host name with the UID for the first host. The cluster controller then causes the first host to produce a completion signal. The cluster controller then receives user input from a second host among the multiple hosts. The operations of receiving replies from hosts, associating host names with UIDs, and causing hosts to produce completion signals may be repeated until each of the multiple hosts has been named.