Bluetooth device name vs alias

[village_idiot]

I am using a Dell M6500 laptop with a Broadcom
chipset (BCM2046B1) for Bluetooth. Use of various
tools and apps have raised questions which seem
to elude me and hopefully someone can clarify.

Following bootup of the device I use 'hciconfig'
to check the device's state. It reports back
with the correct bd_addr and reports the Name
of the device is 'Dell Wireless 365 Bluetooth
Module'.

This seems strange as per info found on various
websites, the name assigned to the Bluetooth
Device is supposed to be the 'hostname'
which in my case is 'schlittenfahrt'.

During the search for clarification it was noticed
that there is a Bluetooth Device Name and Blue-
tooth Alias. Supposedly the alias is used locally
and the name is broadcast.

Using hciconfig I can change the device Name
being reported by hciconfig. 'btmon' running in
another terminal dutifully parrots the output
from running hciconfig to change the name.
So initially it seemed the info on the internet was
in error.

Now when running 'bluetoothctl' the world gets
really interesting. btmon again dutifully reports.
It reports the NAME of the device is changed to
BlueZ 5.23. bluetoothctl however reports that
the 'ALIAS" has been changed to BlueZ 5.23.
Then bluetoothctl goes on to report that the
'NAME' has been changed to 'schlittenfahrt'.

I have no clue at this point who is doing what
to whose cow for how much money.

Does anyone know:

1 Does the Bluetooth device have a "Name" and
an "ALIAS"?

2 If so how does one locate the "Name" and
"Alias" and know the returns are reliable?

3 Is anyone aware of where in the Bluetooth
spec the device name and alias are clearly
defined?

TIA VI

[village_idiot]

Followup on the bluetooth naming issue.

1 Linux creates the Bluetooth Device Name at boot and assigns the name to the Bluetooth Device.

2 If more than one Bluetooth Device is attached at boot then Linux uses the same device name
and appends the numeral 1 to the next device, then 2 then 3 until all devices have a unique
identifier.

3 If you attach a Bluetooth Device after boot, Linux will create the Device Name and assign it
at the time the device is attached. As in item 2 if you attach another device Linux appends
a numeral to the first assigned Bluetooth Device Name and indexes by one for each successive
Bluetooth device attached.

4 Linux does not arbitrarily create the Bluetooth Device Name it assigns. It uses the 'hostname'
of the system the Bluetooth device is attached. So if computer 'hostname' is Bull_Durham then
the Bluetooth Device will be named Bull_Durham. A second attached device would be assigned
Bull_Durham1 and each successive device attached would be assigned the same name with the
numeral indexed by one.

5 To determine your system hostname type 'hostname' and press enter. Do not type a space or
character after 'hostname' as Linux will interpret this to change the hostname and will dutifully
do so. I prefer to use 'hostnamectl'. This returns not only the 'hostname' but other information
of interest.

6 There are two ways to change the Bluetooth Device Name.
(a) Change the host computers 'hostname'
(b) Assign 'prettyname'

If using method (a) then follow these steps:
Type at the command prompt, 'hostnamectl set-hostname newname'----------This will immediately change the systems hostname.
Type 'service bluetooth restart'---------------------------------------------------This will force the Bluetooth Device name change without rebooting

Alternatively (b) if Linux finds that 'prettyname' is set at the time the system is
booted it will use 'prettyname' as the Bluetooth Device name. To set prettyname
type the following:

'hostnamectl --pretty set-hostname 'your_prettyname'----------------------This step assigns the name or string you want to use for pretty name.
'service bluetooth restart'--------------------------------------------------------This will immediately assign 'prettyname' to the Bluetooth Device without rebooting

Keep in mind each additional Bluetooth Devices name will be appended with a
numeral and indexed by one.

Also be aware that the Bluetooth Device Alias is not the same as the Bluetooth
Device Name. Bluetooth Device name is what appears on another Bluetooth Device's
Display and not the alias. Thus if your system's hostname or prettyname is 'Bung-Fu'
then all of the devices attached to the host will have 'Bung-Fu' as the base to
their name. If using Bluefogger to clutter the air with six dongles it will be obvious
as you will have Bung-Fu, Bung-Fu1 through Bug-Fu5, kind of making it obvious
you are up to mischief.