Iftab - Revision history

Christoph at 17:23, 3 January 2014

2014-01-03T17:23:52Z

Christoph at 06:27, 14 May 2008

2008-05-14T06:27:06Z

Christoph at 23:20, 2 May 2007

2007-05-02T23:20:38Z

Christoph: /* Examples */

2007-05-02T23:11:32Z

‎Examples

Christoph: /* Examples */

2007-03-28T23:56:52Z

‎Examples

Christoph at 23:40, 28 March 2007

2007-03-28T23:40:12Z

New page

'''iftab''' - static information about the network interfaces. The file <code>/etc/iftab</code> contains descriptive information about the various network interfaces. <code>iftab</code> is only used by the program <tt>ifrename</tt> to assign a consistent network interface name to each network interface.

<code>/etc/iftab</code> defines a set of mappings. Each mapping contains an interface name and a set of selectors. The selectors allow <tt>ifrename</tt> to identify each network interface on the system. If a network interface matches all descriptors of a mapping, <tt>ifrename</tt> attempt to change the name of the interface to the interface name given by the mapping.

==Mappings==
Each mapping is described on a separate line, it starts with an interface name, and contains a set of descriptors, separated by space or tabs.

The relationship between descriptors of a mapping is a logical and. A mapping matches a network interface only is all the descriptors match. If a network interface doesn't support a specific descriptor, it won't match any mappings using this descriptor.

If you want to use alternate descriptors for an interface name (logical or), specify two different mappings with the same interface name (one on each line). <tt>ifrename</tt> always use the first matching mapping starting from the end of <code>iftab</code>, therefore more restrictive mapping should be specified last.

==Interface name==
The first part of each mapping is an interface name. If a network interface matches all descriptors of a mapping, <tt>ifrename</tt> attempt to change the name of the interface to the interface name given by the mapping.

The interface name of a mapping is either a plain interface name (such as <code>eth2</code> or <code>wlan0</code>) or a interface name pattern containing a single wildcard (such as <code>eth*</code> or <code>wlan*</code>). In case of wildcard, the kernel replace the '<code>*</code>' with the lowest available integer making this interface name unique.

==Descriptors==
Each descriptor is composed of a descriptor name and descriptor value. Descriptors specify a static attribute of a network interface, the goal is to uniquely identify each piece of hardware.

Most users will only use the mac selector, other selectors are for more specialized setup.

;'''mac''' ''mac address'' : matches the [[wikipedia:MAC address|MAC Address]] of the interface with the specified MAC address. The MAC address of the interface can be shown using <tt>ifconfig(8)</tt> or <tt>ip(8)</tt>. The specified MAC address may contain a '<code>*</code>' for wildcard matching. This is the most common selector, as most interfaces have a unique MAC address allowing to identify network interfaces without ambiguity.
;'''arp''' ''arp type'' : matches the [[wikipedia:Address Resolution Protocol|ARP]] Type (also called Link Type) of the interface with the specified ARP type. The ARP Type of the interface can be shown using <tt>ifconfig(8)</tt> or <tt>ip(8)</tt>. This selector is useful when a driver create multiple network interfaces for a single network card.
;'''driver''' ''driver name'' : matches the Driver Name of the interface with the specified driver name. The Driver Name of the interface can be shown using <tt>ethtool -i(8)</tt>.
;'''businfo''' ''bus information'' : matches the Bus Information of the interface with the specified bus information. The Bus Information of the interface can be shown using <tt>ethtool -i(8)</tt>.
;'''baseaddress''' ''base address'' : matches the Base Address of the interface with the specified base address. The Base Address of the interface can be shown using <tt>ifconfig(8)</tt>. Because most cards use dynamic allocation of the Base Address, this selector is only useful for ISA and EISA cards.
;'''irq''' ''irq line'' : matches the IRQ Line (interrupt) of the interface with the specified IRQ line. The IRQ Line of the interface can be shown using <tt>ifconfig(8)</tt>. Because there are IRQ Lines may be shared, this selector is usually not sufficient to uniquely identify an interface.
;'''iwproto''' ''wireless protocol'' : matches the Wireless Protocol of the interface with the specified wireless protocol. The Wireless Protocol of the interface can be shown using <tt>iwconfig(8)</tt>. This selector is only supported on wireless interfaces and is not sufficient to uniquely identify an interface.

==Examples==
# This is a comment
eth2 mac 08:00:09:DE:82:0E
eth3 driver wavelan interrupt 15 baseaddress 0x390
eth4 driver pcnet32 businfo 0000:02:05.0
air* mac 00:07:0E:* arp 1

==Source==
*Jean Tourrilhes

==See also==
ifrename(8), ifconfig(8), ip(8), iwconfig(8).

[[Category:Linux Command Line Tools]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''iftab''' - static information about the network interfaces. The file <code>/etc/iftab</code> contains descriptive information about the various network interfaces. <code>iftab</code> is only used by the program <tt>ifrename</tt> to assign a consistent network interface name to each network interface.
+'''iftab''' - static information about the network interfaces. The file <code>/etc/iftab</code> contains descriptive information about the various network interfaces. <code>iftab</code> is only used by the program <tt>ifrename</tt> to assign a consistent network interface name to each network interface. Note: <code>/etc/iftab</code> is not used (by default) in all Linux distros.
 <code>/etc/iftab</code> defines a set of mappings. Each mapping contains an interface name and a set of selectors. The selectors allow <tt>ifrename</tt> to identify each network interface on the system. If a network interface matches all descriptors of a mapping, <tt>ifrename</tt> attempt to change the name of the interface to the interface name given by the mapping.
@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 Each mapping is described on a separate line, it starts with an interface name, and contains a set of descriptors, separated by space or tabs.
-The relationship between descriptors of a mapping is a logical and. A mapping matches a network interface only is all the descriptors match. If a network interface doesn't support a specific descriptor, it won't match any mappings using this descriptor.
+The relationship between descriptors of a mapping is a logical and. A mapping matches a network interface only is all the descriptors match. If a network interface does not support a specific descriptor, it won't match any mappings using this descriptor.
 If you want to use alternate descriptors for an interface name (logical or), specify two different mappings with the same interface name (one on each line). <tt>ifrename</tt> always use the first matching mapping starting from the end of <code>iftab</code>, therefore more restrictive mapping should be specified last.
@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 *tracepath(8), traceroute(8)
 *[[wikipedia:udev|udev]](7) &mdash; dynamic device management
 [[Category:Linux Command Line Tools]]

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
     Address                  HWtype  HWaddress           Flags Mask            Iface
     xx.x.xx.xxx              ether   00:00:00:00:00:00   C                     eth0
 ==Source==
@@ Line 48: / Line 57: @@
 *[[wikipedia:arping|arping]] &mdash; end ARP REQUEST to a neighbour host
 *tracepath(8), traceroute(8)
 [[Category:Linux Command Line Tools]]

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 ==See also==
-ifrename(8), ifconfig(8), ip(8), iwconfig(8).
+*ifrename(8), ifconfig(8), ip(8), iwconfig(8).
 [[Category:Linux Command Line Tools]]

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 ==Examples==
   # This is a comment
-  eth2  mac 08:00:09:DE:82:0E
+  eth2  mac 00:00:00:00:00:00
   eth3  driver wavelan interrupt 15 baseaddress 0x390
   eth4  driver pcnet32 businfo 0000:02:05.0
   air*  mac 00:07:0E:* arp 1
 ==Source==