One ip tool to rule them all
Core Technology
© Valentine Sinitsyn develops high-loaded services and teaches students completely unrelated subjects. He also has a KDE developer account that he's never really used.
Prise the back off Linux and find out what really makes it tick.
When it comes to network configuration, Linux has several utilities collected in net-tools. Users learn to manage addresses with ifconfig, routes with route, and MAC addresses and the local network segment (the neighborhood) with arp. A single tool, ip of the iproute2 tool collection, replaces several of the classic network tools with one utility.
Making Links
The ip tool operates on objects, which could be links, network layer addresses, routes, rules, and a few others. I'll start with Layer 2 objects (i.e., links) and advance to upper layers.
The ip utility should already be in your Linux system. If not, install the iproute2 package. The ip(8) man page provides generic instructions on using the command, whereas ip-link(8) and friends provide the specifics. If you have ever used Git, you understand this split. Basically, you provide ip an object on which to operate; a command, such as add or del; and some options. The command ip <object> help lists the details in each case.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Nitrux 6.0 Now Ready to Rock Your World
The latest iteration of the Debian-based distribution includes all kinds of newness.
-
Linux Foundation Reports that Open Source Delivers Better ROI
In a report that may surprise no one in the Linux community, the Linux Foundation found that businesses are finding a 5X return on investment with open source software.
-
Keep Android Open
Google has announced that, soon, anyone looking to develop Android apps will have to first register centrally with Google.
-
Kernel 7.0 Now in Testing
Linus Torvalds has announced the first Release Candidate (RC) for the 7.x kernel is available for those who want to test it.
-
Introducing matrixOS, an Immutable Gentoo-Based Linux Distro
It was only a matter of time before a developer decided one of the most challenging Linux distributions needed to be immutable.
-
Chaos Comes to KDE in KaOS
KaOS devs are making a major change to the distribution, and it all comes down to one system.
-
New Linux Botnet Discovered
The SSHStalker botnet uses IRC C2 to control systems via legacy Linux kernel exploits.
-
The Next Linux Kernel Turns 7.0
Linus Torvalds has announced that after Linux kernel 6.19, we'll finally reach the 7.0 iteration stage.
-
Linux From Scratch Drops SysVinit Support
LFS will no longer support SysVinit.
-
LibreOffice 26.2 Now Available
With new features, improvements, and bug fixes, LibreOffice 26.2 delivers a modern, polished office suite without compromise.