Network config...why so many??

[Xucaen]

--- Terry Boon [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 /etc/network/interfaces is where you may want
 to look.  Here's mine as
 an example (with one ethernet card):
 
# /etc/network/interfaces -- configuration
 file for ifup(8), ifdown(8)
 
# The loopback interface
iface lo inet loopback
 
# The first network card - this entry was
 created during the Debian
# installation
# (network, broadcast and gateway are
 optional)
iface eth0 inet static
  address 172.16.0.2
  netmask 255.255.255.0
  network 172.16.0.0
  broadcast 172.16.0.255
#  gateway 172.16.0.1
 

Hi all, I'm just curious. why are there so many
files that apparently hold the same information?
I thought the network configuration were kept in
files hosts, hostname, gateways, route.something,
and a few others that I can't think of the
names..  now there's this file called interfaces?
how will I know which files to change and which
ones not to change? I have been looking through
many many books and docs and this is the first
time I've heard of the interfaces file. why have
all of the other files if everything can be
configured in this one interfaces file?

xucaen 

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Re: Network config...why so many??

[Phil Brutsche]

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A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far way, someone said...

 Hi all, I'm just curious. why are there so many files that apparently
 hold the same information? I thought the network configuration were
 kept in files hosts, hostname, gateways, route.something, and a few
 others that I can't think of the names..  now there's this file called
 interfaces?

There are really only two or three files that you need to pay attention
to.

1) /etc/hostname
2) /etc/hosts
3) /etc/network/interfaces

/etc/hostname is the computer's name

/etc/hosts is a local name database

/etc/network/interfaces contains

I've never needed to use /etc/gateways and I don't have any /etc/route.*
files

 how will I know which files to change and which ones not to change?

Experience and asking people questions

 I have been looking through many many books and docs and this is the
 first time I've heard of the interfaces file.

It's specific to Debian.  Besides, most of those books are specific to
RedHat.

 why have all of the other files if everything can be configured in
 this one interfaces file?

But that would make it too easy :)

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Phil Brutsche   [EMAIL PROTECTED]

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