SUSE Linux – How to Identify Logical and Physical Network Interface Names While Installing the OS

When you are configuring the SUSE Linux OS while installing it, you reach a point where you must enter the logical and physical names (MAC addresses) of the network interfaces.

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

Before You Begin

Find and record the MAC addresses of all your physical ports from their labels.

1. If you have not already done so, select Rescue System and press Enter.

   The message Loading Linux Kernel appears followed by the SUSE splash screen, then the Choose a Keyboard Map screen appears.

2. In the Choose a Keyboard Map screen, select the appropriate keyboard configuration and click OK.

   The user shell launches, and the Rescue Login prompt appears.

3. At the Rescue Login prompt, type root to log in, then press Enter.

   The Rescue prompt appears.

4. At the Rescue prompt (#), type the following command, then press Enter to display all network interfaces.

   # ifconfig -a

   The output of the Linux SUSE named and physical named network interfaces appear. See the following sample output in Step 5 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.

5. To view the output per network interface, type the following command at the 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:

   • The eth0 entry in the first column refers to the Linux SUSE logical named interface. This first column in the output identifies the logical names SUSE assigned to the network interface.
   • The HWaddr 00.14.4F.0C:A1:53 entry in the second column (first row) refers to the physical MAC address of the network port.

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     Note - This MAC address is an example; the MAC addresses in your server will be different.

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6. Record the SUSE logical network interface name with the physical port MAC address for future reference.

   You need to refer to this record when configuring the network interfaces during the Linux SUSE OS installation.

7. When you are done, do one of the following to exit the Rescue shell.
   • From the ILOM web interface, select Remote Control —> Remote Power Control —> Reset.
   • From other consoles, type reboot at the Rescue prompt (#), then press Enter.
8. Restart the Linux SUSE installation program.