17 Exploring Networking Configuration

Understanding Network Configuration
- Networking is a fundamental service for system communication.
- Different Linux distributions handle networking differently.
- Learning basic networking concepts is essential for troubleshooting.
Checking Network Interfaces
- ifconfig was a traditional command but is now deprecated in Ubuntu.
- ip a (or ip addr show) is the modern replacement.
- Displays all active network interfaces and their IP addresses.
Loopback vs. Ethernet Interfaces
- lo (loopback) is for internal communication (127.0.0.1).
- Ethernet interfaces (eth0, ens18) connect to external networks.
- Not all interfaces have an assigned IP address by default.
Differences Between Distributions
- Ubuntu uses ens18 instead of eth0 for Ethernet.
- Kali supports ifconfig but also works with ip a.
- CentOS can have multiple interfaces (e.g., eth0, eth1) for routing.
Configuring Network Interfaces
- Some systems automatically assign an IP address, others require manual setup.
- Understanding interface naming conventions prevents command failures.
- Routers require multiple interfaces to connect different networks.
Practical Use Cases
- Running ip a helps verify network status.
- Identifying active interfaces prevents configuration mistakes.
- Knowing the correct interface name is crucial for applying settings.