How to rename Ethernet devices through udev
This document (3012993) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.
Environment
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10
Situation
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ethX was replaced with a new NIC. The new NIC is showing as ethY, but it needs to have the same name as the replaced ethX.
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A virtual machine was cloned and eth0 does not show, but an eth1 does.
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Business rules dictate that interface X needs to be known by a certain name.
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A wireless NIC is showing as wlanX but needs to appear as ethX.
Resolution
Renaming Ethernet devices is done through udev.
- Identify the hardware MAC address of the Ethernet device:
ifconfig CURRENT_DEVICE_NAME | grep HWaddr
The output after "HWaddr" is the physical hardware address. Sample output:eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:1A:4B:B7:31:13 - Open /etc/udev/rules.d/30-net_persistent_names.rules for editing. The names of the Ethernet devices are listed in this file.
- Locate and identify the line with the NIC from step 1. It may look like this:
SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", SYSFS{address}=="00:1a:4b:b7:31:13", IMPORT="/lib/udev/rename_netiface %k eth0
- From the step above, the text after "IMPORT="/lib/udev/rename_netiface %k" is the name of the Ethernet device. Change this as needed. In this example, the interface eth0 will be renamed to eth5:
SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", SYSFS{address}=="00:1a:4b:b7:31:13", IMPORT="/lib/udev/rename_netiface %k eth5"
- Save the file.
- Reboot to test changes.
Additional Information
udev
udev manages the device tree /dev. It can handle hotplugging (the dynamic addition and removal of devices, for instance plugging in a USB stick) and provides a way to have persistent naming across reboots and hardware configuration changes. For more information on udev, please refer to the SLES 10 Installation and Administration Guide - Chapter 24, Dynamic Kernel Device Management with udev.
Related documentation
udev manages the device tree /dev. It can handle hotplugging (the dynamic addition and removal of devices, for instance plugging in a USB stick) and provides a way to have persistent naming across reboots and hardware configuration changes. For more information on udev, please refer to the SLES 10 Installation and Administration Guide - Chapter 24, Dynamic Kernel Device Management with udev.
Related documentation
Disclaimer
This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.
- Document ID:3012993
- Creation Date: 04-Jan-2008
- Modified Date:23-Feb-2021
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- SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time Extension
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