Network Interface Names

Traditionally, early kernel versions assigned names to network interface devices by assigning a prefix, which is typically based on the device driver, and a number, such as eth0. With the availability of different types of devices, this naming schema is no longer efficient. The names don't necessarily correspond to the chassis labels and the names themselves might be inconsistent across existing network interfaces. The inconsistency would affect embedded adapters on the system, including add-in adapters. Server platforms with several network adapters could have problems managing these interfaces.

Oracle Linux implements a consistent naming scheme for all network interfaces through the udev device manager. The scheme offers the following advantages:

  • The names of the devices are predictable.
  • Device names persist across system reboots or after changes are made to the hardware.
  • Defective hardware can easily be identified and thus replaced.

The feature that implements consistent naming on devices is enabled in Oracle Linux by default. Network interface names are based on information that's derived from the system BIOS. Alternatively, they can be based on a device's firmware, system path, or MAC address.

Network interfaces are identified by a name that combines a prefix and a suffix. The prefix depends on the type of network interface:

Prefix Description
en Ethernet network interfaces.
wl Wireless local area network (LAN) interfaces.
ww Wireless wide area network (WAN) interfaces.

The suffix contains any of the following information:

Prefix Description
on

An on-board index number.

Example: eno0
sn

A hot-plug slot index number.

Example: ens1

Other prefixes that might be included in the interface name include:
  • f—function
  • d—device-id
pbussn

The bus and slot number.

Example: enp0s8

Other prefixes that might be included in the interface name include:
  • f—function
  • d—device-id
xMAC-addr

The MAC address.

Example: enx0217b08b

Note: This naming format isn't used by Oracle Linux by default. However, administrators can implement it as an option.