IFRENAME(8)                                         Linux Programmer's Manual                                        IFRENAME(8)



NAME
       ifrename - rename network interfaces based on various static criteria

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

DESCRIPTION
       Ifrename is a tool allowing you to assign a consistent name to each of your network interface.

       By default, interface names are dynamic, and each network interface is assigned the first available name (eth0, eth1...).
       The order network interfaces are created may vary. For built-in interfaces, the kernel boot time  enumeration  may  vary.
       For removable interface, the user may plug them in any order.

       Ifrename  allow  the  user to decide what name a network interface will have.  Ifrename can use a variety of selectors to
       specify how interface names match the network interfaces on the system, the most common selector  is  the  interface  MAC
       address.

       Ifrename must be run before interfaces are brought up, which is why it's mostly useful in various scripts (init, hotplug)
       but is seldom used directly by the user. By default, ifrename  renames  all  present  system  interfaces  using  mappings
       defined in /etc/iftab.

PARAMETERS
       -c configfile
              Set  the configuration file to be used (by default /etc/iftab).  The configuration file define the mapping between
              selectors and interface names, and is described in iftab(5).
              If configfile is "-", the configuration is read from stdin.

       -p     Probe (load) kernel modules before renaming interfaces. By default ifrename only check interfaces already  loaded,
              and  doesn't auto-load the required kernel modules. This option enables smooth integration with system not loading
              modules before calling ifrename.

       -d     Enable various Debian specific hacks. Combined with  -p,  only  modules  for  interfaces  specified  in  /etc/net-
              work/interface are loaded.

       -i interface
              Only rename the specified interface as opposed to all interfaces on the system. The new interface name is printed.

       -n newname
              When  used  with  -i,  specify  the new name of the interface. The list of mappings from the configuration file is
              bypassed, the interface specified with -i is renamed directly to newname.  The new name may be a wildcard contain-
              ing a single '*'.
              When  used  without  -i, rename interfaces by using only mappings that would rename them to newname.  The new name
              may not be a wildcard. This use of ifrename is discouraged, because inefficient (-n without -i).  All  the  inter-
              faces  of  the  system  need to be processed at each invocation, therefore in most case it is not faster than just
              letting ifrename renaming all of them (without both -n and -i).

       -t     Enable name takeover support. This allow interface name swapping between two or more interfaces.
              Takeover enable an interface to 'steal' the name of another interface. This works only with kernel  2.6.X  and  if
              the  other interface is down. Consequently, this is not compatible with Hotplug. The other interface is assigned a
              random name, but may be renamed later with 'ifrename'.
              The number of takeovers is limited to avoid circular loops, and therefore some  complex  multi-way  name  swapping
              situations may not be fully processed.
              In  any  case,  name swapping and the use of this feature is discouraged, and you are invited to choose unique and
              unambiguous names for your interfaces...

       -u     Enable udev output mode. This enables proper integration of ifrename in the  udev  framework,  udevd(8)  will  use
              ifrename  to  assign  interface  names  present  in /etc/iftab.  In this mode the output of ifrename can be parsed
              directly by udevd(8) as an IMPORT action. This requires udev version 107 or later.

       -D     Dry-run mode. Ifrename won't change any interface, it will only print  new  interface  name,  if  applicable,  and
              return.
              In  dry-run mode, interface name wildcards are not resolved. New interface name is printed, even if it is the same
              as the old name.
              Be also aware that some selectors can only be read by root, for example those based on  ethtool),  and  will  fail
              silently  if  run  by  a normal user. In other words, dry-run mode under a standard user may not give the expected
              result.

       -V     Verbose mode. Ifrename will display internal results of parsing its configuration file and querying the interfaces
              selectors.  Combined  with the dry-run option, this is a good way to debug complex configurations or trivial prob-
              lems.

AUTHOR
       Jean Tourrilhes - jtAThpl.com

FILES
       /etc/iftab

SEE ALSO
       ifconfig(8), ip(8), iftab(5).



wireless-tools                                          26 February 2007                                             IFRENAME(8)