Debian is a Linux-based distribution known for its power, stability and security. Network configuration is a broad process to set up controls of a network, manage the network flow and operation to support the network communication for a specific organization or network owner. Multiple configuration settings are included while configuring the network: Router Configuration, Host Configuration, Software Configuration.
In this descriptive post, network configuration of Debian 11 is explained using command line and GUI as well.
Why Network Configuration is important
The primary task of network administrators is to monitor several activities over a network and network configuration allows them to track any changes that are affecting the performance of the network. With the help of tracking changes administrators can reduce the downtime of a network. In case if any system update causes hindrance to performance of the network; then you can fall back to previous configuration that worked well. Moreover, network security can also be optimized, and it helps to save the previous network configuration settings. For instance, a dynamic IP is used by most internet users, you can set static IP and it is helpful in several businesses where you have to remember the IP addresses of internal as well as external devices. And a business using VPN networks can get advantage of static IP to provide remote work access to their employees.
How to configure network settings in Debian 11
This section will present the process of network configuration of Debian 11: primarily there are three fundamental requirements for network settings:
- Configuring IP address
- Changing Hostname
Configuring IP: You can use “nmtui” command on Debian 11 to configure IP address; type and execute the following command in your terminal:
The following interface you will see and select the option “Edit a connection”:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, application Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-application-description.png" data-lazy- height="474" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”739″>
After that select your ethernet connection and hit enter on “Edit” option:
Note: Use the “tab” key to navigate to several options and hit “enter” to select/edit that option.
<img alt="Graphical user interface, application Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-application-description-1.png" data-lazy- height="480" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”737″>
Navigate to IPv4 CONFIGURATION option and to open its settings, press enter on “<Show>” option:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, text Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-text-description-automa-1.png" data-lazy- height="428" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”718″>
Once you have navigated to the settings; you can configure IP address by following few steps mentioned below:
Set the IPv4 Configuration method to “manual”:
Change the IP address in the “Addresses” option: 192.168.18.200
Set the gateway in “Gateway” option: 192.168.18.1
Lastly, input the DNS server address: 8.8.8.8
<img alt="Graphical user interface Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-description-automaticall.png" data-lazy- height="417" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”695″>
Scroll down and hit enter on “OK”:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, text, email Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-text-email-description.png" data-lazy- height="428" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”712″>
After that, navigate to “Back” option:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, text, application, Word Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-text-application-word.png" data-lazy- height="423" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”448″>
Choose the option “Activate a connection”:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, PowerPoint Description automatically generated with medium confidence" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-powerpoint-description.png" data-lazy- height="348" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”479″>
Lastly, choose “Deactivate” to deactivate the connection:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, application Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-application-description-2.png" data-lazy- height="429" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”495″>
After that, choose “Activate a connection” to start the connection again and navigate to “OK”:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, application Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-application-description-3.png" data-lazy- height="347" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”430″>
As we have changed the IP of interface “enp0s3” so, the following command will show the newly set IP address of the selected network interface:
<img alt="Text Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/text-description-automatically-generated-17.png" data-lazy- height="165" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”719″>
Changing IP address using GUI : Firstly, click on “Activities” and type “settings” in search bar; you will see the settings icon in search results; click on it to open settings:
<img alt="A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated with medium confidence" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/a-screenshot-of-a-computer-description-automatica-2.png" data-lazy- height="263" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”1228″>
Once “Settings” is opened; click on “Network” placed on left side and navigate setting gear icon:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, application Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-application-description-4.png" data-lazy- height="382" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”847″>
You will see a new window that contains the current IP address, gateway, DNS server, Netmask, as shown in the image below:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, text, application, email Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-text-application-email.png" data-lazy- height="494" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”633″>
Now, move to “IPv4” tab to make some changes: perform the following steps carefully:
Step 1: Firstly, change the IPv4 method from Automatic to Manual:
Step 2: Move to “Addresses” section, and write the IP address, Netmask and Gateway:
Step 3: After that, turn off the automatic DNS toggle button and put the DNS value:
Note: We have used the following values in this section:
IP address: 192.168.18.150
Netmask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.18.2
DNS: 8.8.8.8
<img alt="Graphical user interface, text, application Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-text-application-descr-1.png" data-lazy- height="503" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”644″>
After inserting values, apply the changes by clicking on “Apply” button:
Turn OFF/Turn ON the button to allow computer to use new data:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, text, application, email Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-text-application-email-1.png" data-lazy- height="408" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”743″>
Once you have done this; click on the gear icon and look for details; it is observed that the values are changed now:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, text, application Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-text-application-descr-2.png" data-lazy- height="495" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”636″>
Changing hostname using terminal : Run the network manager in terminal by issuing the following command:
The interface shows three options; choose “Set system hostname” and navigate to “OK” to proceed:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, application Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-application-description-5.png" data-lazy- height="305" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”343″>
Your current hostname will be displayed and can be edited:
<img alt="Graphical user interface Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-description-automaticall-1.png" data-lazy- height="258" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”500″>
Type new hostname by replacing the old one: For instance, our old hostname was “adnan” and we have changed it to “linuxhint”: Hit enter on “OK” to complete this step:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, text Description automatically generated with medium confidence" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-text-description-automa-2.png" data-lazy- height="271" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”500″>
After changes, you have to confirm the change by putting the password and then clicking on Authenticate:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, application Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-application-description-6.png" data-lazy- height="411" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”463″>
After successful authentication, it will display a message, set the hostname to ‘linuxhint’, navigate to “OK” to finish the process:
<img alt="Graphical user interface, text Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/graphical-user-interface-text-description-automa-3.png" data-lazy- height="282" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”362″>
The hostname must be changed after completion of the process:
You can verify the changes by using the command mentioned below:
<img alt="Text Description automatically generated with low confidence" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/text-description-automatically-generated-with-low.png" data-lazy- height="59" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”428″>
Changing hostname using hostnamectl command : There is another command in Debian 11 that can be used to change as well as check the hostname in Debian 11. Use the following command to check your current hostname:
<img alt="Text Description automatically generated" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/text-description-automatically-generated-18.png" data-lazy- height="220" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”598″>
It is observed that the current hostname in “linuxhint”; for instance, the command mentioned below will change the hostname to “adnan”:
$ hostnamectl set-hostname adnan
<img data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/word-image-191.png" data-lazy- height="43" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”605″>
Restart the terminal and run the following command to check the hostname:
<img data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/echo/word-image-192.png" data-lazy- height="203" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”652″>
Conclusion
Debian is an open-source distribution of Linux OS that can be used for networking purposes as well. It allows you to configure the network settings as per the user requirements and settings. In this guide, we have described the network configuration on Debian 11; two basic configurations are performed. This guide provides the step-by-step process to change the IP address as well as the hostname on Debian 11. Terminal enthusiasts can use nmtui command to configure network settings whereas the graphical method is also described in this post.
