Configuring network settings is an essential task when managing servers. The nmcli command-line tool provides a straightforward way to manage NetworkManager from the terminal. In this guide, we will walk you through 20 examples of configuring networking on AlmaLinux 8, CentOS 8, or Rocky Linux 8 using the nmcli command. Whether you are deploying it on a local server or using a Windows VPS UK, this tutorial covers all the necessary steps.
Step 1: Check Network Status
To check the status of your network interfaces, use the following command:
nmcli device statusStep 2: List Available Network Connections
To list all available network connections, run:
nmcli connection showStep 3: Create a New Connection
To create a new connection, use:
nmcli connection add type ethernet con-name my-connection ifname eth0Step 4: Set a Static IP Address
To set a static IP address, use:
nmcli connection modify my-connection ipv4.addresses 192.168.1.100/24
nmcli connection modify my-connection ipv4.gateway 192.168.1.1
nmcli connection modify my-connection ipv4.dns 8.8.8.8
nmcli connection modify my-connection ipv4.method manual
Step 5: Enable the Connection
To enable the newly created connection, run:
nmcli connection up my-connectionStep 6: Set Up DHCP
To set up DHCP for an existing connection, use:
nmcli connection modify my-connection ipv4.method autoStep 7: View Current IP Address
To view the current IP address assigned to your interface, use:
nmcli -p device show eth0Step 8: Delete a Connection
To delete a specific connection, run:
nmcli connection delete my-connectionStep 9: Modify a Connection
To modify an existing connection, use:
nmcli connection modify my-connection ipv4.addresses 192.168.1.101/24Step 10: Set Connection to Auto-Connect
To make a connection auto-connect at boot, use:
nmcli connection modify my-connection connection.autoconnect yesStep 11: Disable a Connection
To disable a connection, run:
nmcli connection down my-connectionStep 12: Restart NetworkManager
If you need to restart NetworkManager, use:
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManagerStep 13: View Connection Details
To view detailed information about a connection, use:
nmcli connection show my-connectionStep 14: Configure VLANs
To create a VLAN connection, run:
nmcli connection add type vlan con-name my-vlan ifname eth0 id 10
Step 15: Set up Bridge Connection
To create a bridge connection, use:
nmcli connection add type bridge con-name my-bridge ifname br0
nmcli connection add type ethernet con-name my-bridge-slave ifname eth0 master br0
Step 16: Monitor Network Activity
To monitor network activity, use:
nmcli monitorStep 17: Set MTU
To set the MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit) for a connection, use:
nmcli connection modify my-connection 802-3-ethernet.mtu 1500Step 18: Set IPv6 Configuration
To enable IPv6 and set its configuration, run:
nmcli connection modify my-connection ipv6.method auto
Step 19: Backup Connection Configuration
To backup your connection configuration, copy the configuration file:
nmcli connection export my-connection > my-connection.backupStep 20: Restore Connection Configuration
To restore a connection configuration from a backup, run:
nmcli connection import my-connection.backup