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Ubuntu, and all other Linux distros, Tools for command-line commands These are the most effective ways to communicate with the internal workings of your computer. For setting up network settings in Linux, use the ifconfig command.
Although ifconfig is an older version than the ip command it’s still preferred by many because of its simplicity and ease-of-use. How do you use it for networking interface configuration? This is how it works.
Installing Net-Tools
Linux distributions don’t automatically include the ifconfig command. While most system administrators will automatically install the appropriate package when they set up things, in certain cases it may not be installed on your machine. It is easy to install.
The ifconfig command will not work on systems that don’t already have it. You will get an error message along with directions on how you can install it. Simply enter the command:
sudo apt install net-tools
You will need to install ifconfig as well as a couple of other utilities for network configuration. Please note that sudo This is necessary to install ifconfig or enable/disable networks.
Ifconfig allows you to see network information
It is easiest to just run the ifconfig command without parameters. You will see information about all active interfaces including wireless and ethernet.
It contains all relevant information regarding the network interfaces. This includes MTU (Maximum Transmission unit) value, IP addresses, You can also see packet history. Enter ifconfig –s to get the technical details in an easier-to-read format, including interface names.
Both of these versions do not include inactive networks. Instead, you can use the ifconfig-a command to view all interfaces.
If you know the names of all the network interfaces and want to only see the status for a specific one, then you can add its name to the “ifconfig” command. As an example:
ifconfig eth0
Use ifconfig to enable or disable network connections
Ifconfig can be used to check the status and configuration of all running networks. To configure nearly every feature of these interfaces (down to their MTU or masking), you can use the command ifconfig.
It is possible to either start or stop network connections. This is the simplest case. The following command will do the trick:
sudo ifconfig name up
The actual network name can be found in the “name” parameter. This parameter can be used for activating any inactive interfaces identified using the ifconfig command.
You can disable any network by using down rather than u:
sudo ifconfig dummy0 down
This will cause the interface to be unresponsive.
Configuring networks with ifconfig
It is simple to modify any value that is associated with a network interface. Remember to prefix the command sudo, All these changes will require administrators privileges in order to be effective.
Most people use this feature to assign an IP address to their network. Here’s an example of how to assign a new IP address for the dummy0 interface:
sudo ifconfig dummy0 29.95.245.112
To assign an IP address, you can use any valid one after the network name. If you enter something wrongly, you will not receive a message. If you enter the wrong information, the message will not be displayed.
It is also possible to specify a netmask as this:
sudo ifconfig dummy0 netmask 255.255.255.0
It is very similar to the syntax used for broadcast addresses:
sudo ifconfig dummy0 broadcast 77.40.108.115
You can combine the different commands to make it more efficient if you are trying to alter all of these IP addresses within a network. As with most Linux commands you can put multiple arguments on the same line.
An interface to the network can have one or several aliases. These aliases are defined by the syntax name:x, name The network’s name is x a digit. This is an example: How to add an alias address IP address to the Dummy0 network.
sudo ifconfig dummy0:0 69.72.169.2
It can be confirmed that the operation worked using ifconfig.
ifconfig dummy0:0
What Can You Do with ifconfig Other Than That?
There are many arguments you can use with the ifconfig command to alter other variables on a network connection. The ifconfig command can be used to enable multicast and set the MTU. It also activates promiscuous modes.
The official man pages You will find a comprehensive list of arguments you can use in ifconfig along with technical descriptions of each. You can invoke the manual directly from the terminal by using the man ifconfig command.
When is it appropriate to use ifconfi?
The ifconfig command is not necessary for most users. Normal internet use can be done with the default settings.
If you are a system administrator and need more control over your network interfaces then ifconfig may be the right tool. To properly configure the network interfaces, you can simply use this command to start up your system. After that, it’s easy to forget about.
You can use it to diagnose network problems. It allows you to query any interface on the network and then configure it. Ifconfig can be used to reboot networks and switch technical parameters so that it runs more efficiently.
