The /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-ethN files

Securing and Optimizing Linux: RedHat Edition -A Hands on Guide
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# 9.2. The `/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-ethN` files

File configurations for each network device you may have or want to add on your system are located in the `/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/` directory with Red Hat Linux 6.1 or 6.2 and are named `ifcfg-eth0` for the first interface and `ifcfg-eth1` for the second, etc. Following is a example `/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0` file:

               DEVICE=eth0
               IPADDR=208.164.186.1
               NETMASK=255.255.255.0
               NETWORK=208.164.186.0
               BROADCAST=208.164.186.255
               ONBOOT=yes
               BOOTPROTO=none
               USERCTL=no

If you want to modify your network address manually, or add a new network on a new interface, edit this file -`ifcfg-ethN`, or create a new one and make the appropriate changes.

- DEVICE=devicename, where devicename is the name of the physical network device.

- IPADDR=ipaddr, where ipaddr is the IP address.

- NETMASK=netmask, where netmask is the netmask IP value.

- NETWORK=network, where network is the network IP address.

- BROADCAST=broadcast, where broadcast is the broadcast IP address.

- ONBOOT=answer, where answer is yes or no. Do the interface need to be active or inactive at boot time.

- BOOTPROTO=proto, where proto is one of the following :

  1. none - No boot-time protocol should be used.

  2. bootp - The bootp now pump protocol should be used.

  3. dhcp - The dhcp protocol should be used.

- USERCTL=answer, where answer is one of the following:

  1. yes - Non-root users are allowed to control this device.

  2. no - Only the super-user root is allowed to control this device.

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