How to Identify Logical and Physical Network Interface Names While Installing Oracle Linux or RHEL

During installation and configuration of the Oracle or Red Hat Enterprise Linux OS, you reach a point where you must enter the logical and physical names (MAC addresses) of the network interfaces.

This section explains how to launch a user shell during the Linux configuration to obtain the logical and physical network interface names that you need to continue with the configuration.

If you have not already done so, type: linux rescue at the boot prompt, then press Enter.
The Choose a Language screen appears.
In the Choose a Language screen, select the appropriate language and click OK.
The Keyboard Type screen appears.
In the Keyboard Type screen, select the appropriate configuration then click OK.
The Setup Network screen appears.
In the Setup Network screen, click No.
The Rescue screen appears.
In the Rescue screen, click Skip.
The user shell appears.
At the command prompt (#) in the user shell, type the following command to display all network interfaces, then press Enter.
```
# ifconfig -a
```
The output of the Linux named network interfaces appear. See the following sample output as an example.
If you have multiple network interfaces and the output of interfaces scrolls off the top of the screen, you can display the output per interface.
To view the output per network interface, type the following at the command prompt, then press Enter:
```
# ifconfig eth#
```
where eth# is the interface number. For example, if you type:
```
# ifconfig eth0
```
The output for eth0 appears:
In the sample output above:
```
Link encap:Ethernet  HWaddr 00:14:4F:0C:A1:F2 
inet addr:192.168.2.103  Bcast:192.168.2.255 
```
- The eth0 entry in the first column refers to the Oracle Linux logical named interface. This first column in the output identifies the logical names Oracle Linux or RHEL assigned to the network interface.
- The HWaddr 00.14.4F.0C:A1:F2 entry in second column (first row) refers to the physical MAC address of the network port.
Record the logical network interface name with the physical port MAC address for future reference. You will need to refer to this record when configuring the network interfaces during the Oracle Linux or RHEL OS installation.
When you are done, do one of the following to exit the user shell.
- From the ILOM, select Remote Control ->Remote Power Control->Reset.
- From the ILOM Remote Console, select Ctrl Alt Delete in the Keyboard menu.
- From other consoles, press Ctrl->Alt->Delete.
Restart the OS installation program.

Skip Navigation Links
Exit Print View
	Sun Fire X4800 Server Product Documentation