net.conf mini-HowTo

Adam Dosch

March 06, 2003


General overview of the network configuration storage file, net.conf, for Fd Linux

1.  Overview

2.  Usage

    a.  Version 2.x-x

    b.  Version 3.x-x

3.  Scenarios

    a.  Version 2.x-x

    b.  Version 3.x-x

4.  Comments


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overview:

Here is an overview of the net.conf configuration that comes stock with version's 2.x-x and 3.x-x of Fd Linux.  Net.conf is derived from the user-interactive network set up script (rc.network) that you will have to initially run through on the first run through of Fd Linux.  It holds all of your network related settings that you choose throughout the interactive process to make the next bootup quick and easy because everything will be set up.  This configuration file will be your main source of backup for your network settings. As you step through the network setup, each setting it written to this file.

Knowing how to manually manipulate the net.conf files in these particular versions will make it easier for you, as a user, to fix setup errors instead of having to remove the entire net.conf file from the floppy disk and rebooting Fd Linux and go back through the setup again.

 

Usage:

This particular section will explain the inner workings of the net.conf structure in both versions that carry it (2.x and 3.x).  The explanation of all of the

 

Version 2.x Usage:

Here is the list of variables that version 2.x of Fd Linux uses within rc.network that provide functionality for certain scripts (i.e. if-up, if-down, rc.network):

Stored Setting Function
CARDS holds the value "1" or "2" for the number of cards you have in your machine to use
   
ETH0 holds the name of the module you wish to load for your primary network card
ETH0IO holds the IO base for selected card or value of "NONE" if not chosen
ETH0DHCP holds "YES" or "NO" value for DHCP setup on your primary network card [DHCP setup]
ETH0IP holds IP address you specify for your primary network card [Static setup]
ETH0NETMASK holds the subnet mask you specify for the primary network card [Static setup]
ETH0GATEWAY holds the gateway IP address you specifiy for your primary network card [Static setup]
   
ETH1 holds the name of the module you wish to load for your second network card
ETH0IO holds the IO base for selected card or value of "NONE" if not chosen
ETH1DHCP holds "YES" or "NO" value for DHCP setup on your second network card [DHCP setup]
ETH1IP holds IP address you specify for your second network card [Static setup]
ETH1NETMASK olds the subnet mask you specify for the second network card [Static setup]
ETH1GATEWAY holds the gateway IP address you specifiy for your primary network card [Static setup]
   
HOSTNAME holds the hostname you specifiy in setup
PRIDNS holds the DNS number that gets placed in /etc/resolv.conf
   

 

Version 3.x Usage:

Stored Setting Function
ARCH holds selected network interface architecture (ISAPCI, PCMCIA or OTHER)
NOCARDS holds the value "1" or "2" for the number of cards you have in your machine to use
   
ETH0 holds the name of the module you wish to load for your primary network card
ETH0IO holds the IO base for selected card or value of "NO" if not chosen
ETH0DHCP holds "YES" or "NO" value for DHCP setup on your primary network card [DHCP setup]
ETH0IP holds IP address you specify for your primary network card [Static setup]
ETH0NETMASK holds the subnet mask you specify for the primary network card [Static setup]
ETH0GATEWAY holds the gateway IP address you specifiy for your primary network card [Static setup]
   
IOBASE tells whether the 2 network card setup will have IO bases for both cards "YES" or "NO"
   
CARDCHOICE holds the type of PCMCIA card you chose "NIC" or "WIFI"
   
ETH1 holds the name of the module you wish to load for your second network card
ETH1IO holds the IO base for selected card or value of "NO" if not chosen
ETH1DHCP holds "YES" or "NO" value for DHCP setup on your second network card [DHCP setup]
ETH1IP holds IP address you specify for your second network card [Static setup]
ETH1NETMASK holds the subnet mask you specify for the second network card [Static setup]
ETH1GATEWAY holds the gateway IP address you specifiy for your primary network card [Static setup]
   
HOSTNAME holds the hostname you specifiy in setup
PRIDNS holds the DNS number that gets placed in /etc/resolv.conf [Static Setup]
   
WIFIMANUAL tells whether manual setup was chosen for wireless card or not (YES or NO)
WIFIWEP holds specified hex WEP encryption key (XXXXXXXXX or NO)
WIFIESSID holds the network name of the wireless network [Manual Setup]
WIFIAP holds specified Access Point's MAC Address [Manual Setup]
WIFICHANNEL holds the specified Access Point broadcast channel (1 - 11) [Manual Setup]
   

 

Scenarios:

 

Version 2.x Scenarios:

1)  Suppose you booted up Fd Linux for the first time are going through the interactive network script for the first time.  You decide that you want to set up your network card manually by entering in its IP address, subnet mask, and gateway address all by yourself.  When typing in the subnet mask, instead of typing "255.255.255.0", you end up typing "255.255.2.55.00".  Instead of mounting the floppy disk and deleting the `net.conf` and rebooting Fd Linux to run the interactive network script, you decide to edit net.conf and fix the problem.  To do this, you would type:

    (root->fdlinux)% mount /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy

    (root->fdlinux)% e3 /mnt/floppy/net.conf

Once you have the configuration file open, simply edit ETH0NETMASK so it holds the correct value,   save and reboot Fd Linux for the effects to take place!

 

Version 3.x Scenarios:

1)  You are going through the interactive network script for the first time.  You decide that you want to enter a WEP encryption key during the wireless card setup.  When you're typing the WEP key, you happen to forget a few of the hex letters and you are unable to connect successfully to the access point.  After some thought, you decide to edit the configuration file to fix this problem.  T do this, you would type:

    (root->fdlinux)% mount /dev/fd0 /mnt/floppy

    (root->fdlinux)% e3 /mnt/floppy/net.conf

Once you have the configuration file open, simply edit WIFIWEP so it holds the correct value, save and reboot Fd Linux for the effects to take place!

 

Comments:

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