How To Set A Static Ip Linux

Using ifconfig (deprecated)
Using ip and netplan (modern)

The ip command is replacing the ifconfig command.

People often forget the process for assigning an IP address (static or dynamic) from the Linux command line. Most actually feel too intimidated by the process to commit it to memory, but it's actually very simple.

Here's how to get networking all the way up in a matter of seconds using just a few commands.

Using `ifconfig`

It's sad for us UNIX/Linux nerds, but using ifconfig is now the "old" way of doing things.

1. Set Your IP Address

          ifconfig          eth0          192.168.1.5 netmask 255.255.255.0 up

2. Set Your Default Gateway

          route          add          default gw          192.168.1.1

3. Set Your DNS Server

Yes, 1.1.1.1 is a real DNS resolver by CloudFlare.

          echo          "nameserver 1.1.1.1"          > /etc/resolv.conf

Assuming you have valid addresses for yourself and your gateway (and you have a clear path to the Interweb) you're all set. Test by pinging someone.

          ping          google.com

If you're using an older Linux system, that's all you have to do. If you're on a newer system, read on.

Using `ip` and `netplan`

You should start learning ip now, since it's about to become common everywhere.

Since ifconfig is being phased out, it's time to get used to the new system. By default, Ubuntu 18.04 doesn't use ifconfig anymore, and instead uses the new commands, ip and netplan.

Show your IP using `ip`

ip addr show

Bring an interface up or down using `ip`

ip link set eth1 up

ip link set eth1 down

Showing your routing using `ip`

ip route show

Editing your networking info

For Ubuntu, here's the replacement for editing /etc/networking/* in the old system. The whole system now uses YAML configuration files under /etc/netplan, and then the netplan command applies those configurations to the system.

The * represents the file you find there in the directory.

vi /etc/netplan/ *.yaml

network:   ethernets:       eno1:           addresses: [192.168.1.13/24]           gateway4: 192.168.1.1           dhcp4: true           optional: true           nameservers:               addresses: [8.8.8.8,8.8.4.4]   version: 2

And then to apply the configuration, you run:

netplan apply

So now—whether you're running an older system or a new one—you should now have a static IP address!

Permanence

And finally, here's how to make the change permanent (static) in various environments.

Ubuntu
CentOS
Debian
Gentoo
AWS

Written By Daniel Miessler

Daniel Miessler is a cybersecurity leader, writer, and founder of Unsupervised Learning. He writes about security, tech, and society and has been featured in the New York Times, WSJ, and the BBC.

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