1IFRENAME(8)                Linux Programmer's Manual               IFRENAME(8)
2
3
4

NAME

6       ifrename - rename network interfaces based on various static criteria
7

SYNOPSIS

9       ifrename [-c configfile] [-p] [-d] [-u] [-v] [-V] [-D]
10       ifrename [-c configfile] [-i interface] [-n newname]
11

DESCRIPTION

13       Ifrename  is a tool allowing you to assign a consistent name to each of
14       your network interface.
15
16       By default, interface names are dynamic, and each network interface  is
17       assigned  the  first available name (eth0, eth1...).  The order network
18       interfaces are created may vary. For built-in  interfaces,  the  kernel
19       boot  time  enumeration may vary. For removable interface, the user may
20       plug them in any order.
21
22       Ifrename allow the user to decide what name a  network  interface  will
23       have.  Ifrename can use a variety of selectors to specify how interface
24       names match the network interfaces  on  the  system,  the  most  common
25       selector is the interface MAC address.
26
27       Ifrename  must  be  run  before interfaces are brought up, which is why
28       it's mostly useful in various scripts (init,  hotplug)  but  is  seldom
29       used  directly  by  the  user. By default, ifrename renames all present
30       system interfaces using mappings defined in /etc/iftab.
31

PARAMETERS

33       -c configfile
34              Set the configuration file to be used (by  default  /etc/iftab).
35              The  configuration file define the mapping between selectors and
36              interface names, and is described in iftab(5).
37              If configfile is "-", the configuration is read from stdin.
38
39       -p     Probe (load)  kernel  modules  before  renaming  interfaces.  By
40              default  ifrename  only  check  interfaces  already  loaded, and
41              doesn't auto-load  the  required  kernel  modules.  This  option
42              enables  smooth  integration  with  system  not  loading modules
43              before calling ifrename.
44
45       -d     Enable various Debian specific hacks.  Combined  with  -p,  only
46              modules  for  interfaces specified in /etc/network/interface are
47              loaded.
48
49       -i interface
50              Only rename the specified interface as opposed to all interfaces
51              on the system. The new interface name is printed.
52
53       -n newname
54              When  used  with  -i, specify the new name of the interface. The
55              list of mappings from the configuration file  is  bypassed,  the
56              interface specified with -i is renamed directly to newname.  The
57              new name may be a wildcard containing a single '*'.
58              When used without -i, rename interfaces by using  only  mappings
59              that  would  rename  them to newname.  The new name may not be a
60              wildcard. This use of ifrename is discouraged,  because  ineffi‐
61              cient (-n without -i).  All the interfaces of the system need to
62              be processed at each invocation, therefore in most  case  it  is
63              not  faster  than  just  letting  ifrename  renaming all of them
64              (without both -n and -i).
65
66       -t     Enable name takeover support. This allow interface name swapping
67              between two or more interfaces.
68              Takeover  enable  an  interface  to  'steal' the name of another
69              interface. This works only with kernel 2.6.X and  if  the  other
70              interface  is  down.  Consequently,  this is not compatible with
71              Hotplug. The other interface is assigned a random name, but  may
72              be renamed later with 'ifrename'.
73              The  number of takeovers is limited to avoid circular loops, and
74              therefore some complex multi-way name  swapping  situations  may
75              not be fully processed.
76              In  any  case, name swapping and the use of this feature is dis‐
77              couraged, and you are invited to choose unique  and  unambiguous
78              names for your interfaces...
79
80       -u     Enable  udev  output  mode.  This  enables proper integration of
81              ifrename in the udev framework, udevd(8) will  use  ifrename  to
82              assign  interface names present in /etc/iftab.  In this mode the
83              output of ifrename can be parsed  directly  by  udevd(8)  as  an
84              IMPORT action. This requires udev version 107 or later.
85
86       -D     Dry-run  mode. Ifrename won't change any interface, it will only
87              print new interface name, if applicable, and return.
88              In dry-run mode, interface name wildcards are not resolved.  New
89              interface  name  is  printed,  even if it is the same as the old
90              name.
91              Be also aware that some selectors can only be read by root,  for
92              example  those  based on ethtool), and will fail silently if run
93              by a normal user. In other words, dry-run mode under a  standard
94              user may not give the expected result.
95
96       -V     Verbose  mode. Ifrename will display internal results of parsing
97              its configuration file and querying  the  interfaces  selectors.
98              Combined  with  the  dry-run option, this is a good way to debug
99              complex configurations or trivial problems.
100

AUTHOR

102       Jean Tourrilhes - jt@hpl.hp.com
103

FILES

105       /etc/iftab
106

SEE ALSO

108       ifconfig(8), ip(8), iftab(5).
109
110
111
112wireless-tools                 26 February 2007                    IFRENAME(8)
Impressum