In most cases, you need to configure your network interface or interfaces only oncewhen you install Fedora Core 4. If you add or remove network interface hardware or the configuration of your network changes, however, you might need to make additional changes to your network configuration. Fedora Core 4 provides a desktop Network Configuration tool to manage and configure your network interfaces. The Network Configuration tool is used to configure such items as address, nameserver, and gateway configuration, as well as the hardware network devices installed on your system. Start the Network Configuration tool by choosing Desktop, System Settings, Network. The Network Configuration tool appears, as shown in Figure 29.6, listing all the network interfaces configured on your system. Figure 29.6. Using the Network Configuration tool, you can configure your network interfaces.Editing Static IP or DHCP PropertiesTo edit the address properties of a particular network interface, select the interface you want to configure in the Network Configuration dialog box and then click the Edit button. A more detailed configuration dialog box is displayed, as shown in Figure 29.7. Figure 29.7. Using the Ethernet Device dialog, you can configure the IP address of the selected Ethernet hardware.To specify that the network device in question should be automatically configured, click the Automatically Obtain IP Address Settings option. Then configure the rest of the automatic configuration options:
If your network administrator has given you an IP address, netmask, and gateway address for use with your host, you should choose to configure the network interface manually. To do so, click the Statically Set IP Addresses option. Then fill out the remaining fields:
After you configure your network hardware to work properly with your network, click the OK button to accept the settings you selected and dismiss the detailed configuration dialog box. Manually Configuring DNS InformationIf you have not selected to have your network device's nameserver (DNS) information automatically configured, you must manually configure the DNS information. To do this, click the DNS tab in the Network Configuration dialog box. The DNS options are displayed, as shown in Figure 29.8. Figure 29.8. On the DNS tab, you can configure the name service properties for your network hardware.To configure the basic DNS properties for your network interface, do the following:
After you configure the DNS properties as desired, choose File, Save. If you configured all the network properties for your hardware correctly, click the Close Window button to close the Network Configuration dialog box. Enabling or Disabling Network InterfacesSometimes you might need to completely disable a running network devicefor example, if you are experiencing a hacking attack or if you need to troubleshoot some aspect of network operation by disconnecting from the network. To disable a network device, click the device in the device list of the main Network Device Control tool (refer to Figure 29.6), and then click the Deactivate button. To activate a network device that has been deactivated, click the device in the list and then click the Activate button. After you make all the desired changes to your network equipment, click the Close button to dismiss the Network Device Control tool. |