IP Aliasing HowTo en

IP Aliasing HowTo
version 1
Gianluca Sironi
( save paper! use double-sided )
Table of Contents
1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................3
2 FDL (Free Documentation License)..................................................................................................4
3 Configure IP alias...............................................................................................................................5
4 UNIX: AIX..........................................................................................................................................6
5 UNIX: Solaris....................................................................................................................................10
6 UNIX: HP-UX...................................................................................................................................13
7 Linux..................................................................................................................................................15
8 Windows............................................................................................................................................19
9 References.........................................................................................................................................22
IP Aliasing HowTo - Gianluca Sironi 1

( save paper! use double-sided )
2 IP Aliasing HowTo di Gianluca Sironi

1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Aim of this document is to show how to configure IP alias (logical interfaces) on various
Operating Systems.
In this document we deal mainly with UNIX Operating Systems (AIX, Solaris, HP-UX) and
Linux;.we give also information how to configure IP alias with Microsoft Windows.
The goal is to show which are the configuration files and the commands related to IP alia-
sing.
Some notes about the differences between the variuos UNIX flavours and Linux are shown.

2 FDL (Free Documentation License)
2 FDL (Free Documentation License)
This document is released under FDL (Free Documentation License)
Copyright © 2007 Gianluca Sironi

Via Stradella, 7 – 20129 Milano MI
gianluca.sironi @ gmail.com
GFDL is available under: http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html

3 Configure IP alias
3 Configure IP alias
“IP Aliasing” is the process and the procedure that let to add one (or more) logical interface,
each with its own IP address, to a physical interface.
Examples ar IP alias for web server Virtual Host (Apache, IIS, ...); it is necessary for HTTPS
Virtual Host.
Another example is to “bind” a logical interface (an IP alias) for J2EE Application Server
(Tomcat, WebSphere, …) or for other services (mail relay, name service, … ).
Our best practice is, whenever possible, to bind different TCP/UDP services on different IP
addresses and to configure acl and rules at layer 3.
In UNIX and Linux we use mostly the command “ifconfig” to show/add/configure/remove

logical interfaces.
For IP alias we user private IP addressing and the reference is RFC 1918 “Address
Allocation for Private Internets”.
In this document we show commands and procedure for UNIX (AIX, Solaris, HP-UX), Linux
and Windows.

4 UNIX: AIX
4 UNIX: AIX
We start from an IP configuration with a physical interface “en0” with IP address

“172.18.76.1”, we can verify the IP configuration whit the ifconfig command:
#ifconfig -a
en0: flags=4e080863<UP,BROADCAST,NOTRAILERS,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST,GROUPRT,64BIT,PSEG>
inet 172.18.76.1 netmask 0xfffff800 broadcast 172.18.79.255
lo0: flags=e08084b<UP,BROADCAST,LOOPBACK,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST,GROUPRT,64BIT>
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 0xff000000 broadcast 127.255.255.255
inet6 ::1/0
#
To configure an IP alias we use SMIT (SMITTY with a terminal); for example “smitty” with
the shortcut for IP configuration:
#smitty tcpip
We get :
TCP/IP
Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.
Minimum Configuration & Startup

Further Configuration
Use DHCP for TCPIP Configuration & Startup
IPV6 Configuration
Quality of Service Configuration & Startup
Select “Further Configuration”

4 UNIX: AIX
Further Configuration
Hostname
Static Routes
Network Interfaces
Name Resolution
Client Network Services
Server Network Services
Manage Print Server
Select BSD style rc Configuration
Start Configured TCPIP Daemons
Stop TCPIP Daemons
Authentication Configuration
Select “Network Interfaces”
Network Interfaces
Network Interface Selection

Network Interface Drivers
Select “Network Interfaces Selection”
Network Interface Selection
List All Network Interfaces

Add a Network Interface
Change / Show Characteristics of a Network Interface
Remove a Network Interface
Configure Aliases
Select “Configure Aliases”

4 UNIX: AIX
Configure Aliases
Add an IPV6 Network Alias

Remove an IPV6 Network Alias
Remove an IPV4 Network Alias
Select “Add an IPV4 Network Alias”
The available network interfaces are shown.
Available Network Interfaces
en0 Standard Ethernet Network Interface

et0 IEEE 802.3 Ethernet Network Interface
In our example we select en0
Next screen :
Type or select values in entry fields.

Press Enter AFTER making all desired changes.
[Entry Fields]
Network INTERFACE en0
* IPV4 ADDRESS (dotted decimal) []

Network MASK (hexadecimal or dotted decimal) []
We insert an IP address and the relative subnet mask; in our example 172.18.76.5 and
255.255.248.0

4 UNIX: AIX
At the end of configuration commands we get the status (“OK” if everything is ok)
COMMAND STATUS
Command: OK stdout: yes stderr: no
Before command completion, additional instructions may appear below.
en0 changed
we can exit from “smitty” and we can check the new IP configuration (IP alias) with
ifconfig and the switch “-a”
#ifconfig -a
en0: flags=4e080863<UP,BROADCAST,NOTRAILERS,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST,GROUPRT,64BIT,PSEG>
lo0: flags=e08084b<UP,BROADCAST,LOOPBACK,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST,GROUPRT,64BIT>
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 0xff000000 broadcast 127.255.255.255
inet6 ::1/0
#
/etc/hosts file has to be edited with the correct entries for the IP aliases.
It is possible also to use ifconfig command with the switch “alias”, but it is better
to use “smitty tcpip” to check and verify configuration and interfaces (physical and logical).

5 UNIX: Solaris
5 UNIX: Solaris
We start from an IP configuration with a physical interface hme0 and IP address

192.168.28.28, we can verify the IP configuration whit the ifconfig command:
#ifconfig -a
lo0: flags=1000849<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING,MULTICAST,IPv4> mtu 8232 index 1
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask ff000000
hme0: flags=1000843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST,IPv4> mtu 1500 index 2
inet 192.168.28.28 netmask ffffff00 broadcast 192.168.28.255
ether 8:0:20:b3:41:13
To configure a new logical interface (to the physical interface hme0), as first step we have to
“plumb” the new interface (hme0:1)
#ifconfig hme0:1 plumb
With the ifconfig command we configure IP address (associated to this new logical
interface hme0:1), and netmask and broadcast:
#ifconfig hme0:1 192.168.28.29 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 192.168.28.255
Logical interface “hme0:1” has to be “active” (put in “UP” status)
#ifconfig hme0:1 up
These three steps (plumb, IP configuration, interface activation), can also be performed
with a single command:
#ifconfig hme0:1 plumb 192.168.28.29 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 192.168.28.255 up

5 UNIX: Solaris
We check IP configuration with the ifconfig command:
#ifconfig -a
ether 8:0:20:b3:41:13
hme0:1: flags=1000843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST,IPv4> mtu 1500 index 2
Note: it is not possibile to use the logical interface “hme0:0” which is considered the same
as hme0.
Solaris permits to use the switch “addif” to the command ifconfig, which makes an “implicit
plumb” and assing to the logical interface the next lower available “number”:
#ifconfig hme0 addif 192.168.28.30 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 192.168.28.255 up

Created new logical interface hme0:2
#ifconfig -a
ether 8:0:20:b3:41:13

5 UNIX: Solaris
Note: when not specified, netmask and broadcast are taken “classful” /24 (for
192.168.x.y) , /16 e /8 etc ...; in our example we could use :
#ifconfig hme0 addif 192.168.28.30 up
It is always better to specify every IP configuration parameter (netmask, broadcast ...)
/etc/hosts file (hard link to file /etc/inet/hosts) has to be edited with the correct entries
for the IP aliases.
/etc/hostname.<interface> files have to be created and configurated (in our example files
/etc/hostname.hme0:1 e /etc/hostname.hme0:2).

6 UNIX: HP-UX
6 UNIX: HP-UX
Logical configuration in HP-UX is similar to Sun Solaris, with some differences shown af-
ter.
In HP-UX it does not exist the switch “–a” for ifconfig command; so to check IP configura-
tion we use lanscan command
#lanscan
Hardware Station Crd Hdw Net-Interface NM MAC HP-DLPI DLPI
Path Address In# State NamePPA ID Type Support Mjr#
0/0/0/0 0x000F201DCD7D 0 UP lan0 snap0 1 ETHER Yes 119
0/8/0/0 0x00306EEAB4B5 1 UP lan1 snap1 2 ETHER Yes 119
0/9/0/0 0x00306EEAF49C 2 UP lan2 snap2 3 ETHER Yes 119
#
Known the interfaces (physical and eventually logical), all the information about an
interface can be obtained with the ifconfig <interface> command :
#ifconfig lan1
lan1: flags=843<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST>
#
#ifconfig lan2
lan2: flags=842<BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST>
inet 0.0.0.0 netmask 0
#
Nell’esempio sopra riportato l’interfaccia lan2 non ha una configurazione IP
IP configuration information are cointained (and configurable) in the file

/etc/rc.config.d/netconf
…
INTERFACE_NAME[0]=lan0
IP_ADDRESS[0]=192.168.5.8
SUBNET_MASK[0]=255.255.255.0
BROADCAST_ADDRESS[0]=192.168.5.255
INTERFACE_STATE[0]=up
DHCP_ENABLE[0]=0

6 UNIX: HP-UX
INTERFACE_NAME[1]=lan1
IP_ADDRESS[1]=192.168.9.3
SUBNET_MASK[1]=255.255.255.0
INTERFACE_NAME[2]="lan2"
IP_ADDRESS[2]=""
SUBNET_MASK[2]=""
In our example we configure a new logical interface “lan1:1” editing file

/etc/rc.config.d/netconf :
INTERFACE_NAME[3]="lan1:1"
IP_ADDRESS[3]=192.168.9.5
SUBNET_MASK[3]=255.255.255.0
DHCP_ENABLE[3]=0
Different from Solaris, it is not necessary to “plumb” the interface “lan1:1”;

once configured, the logical interface in the file /etc/rc.config.d/netconf,
has to be activated with the command :
#ifconfig lan1:1 up
IP configuration can be checked with lanscan command, and the specific IP configuration
for this new logical interface can be checked with the ifconfig command:
#ifconfig lan1:1

7 Linux
7 Linux
With Linux (RedHat e derivates distribution like Fedora Core, CentOS, …) configuration
files and commands are in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ folder
In this example we have two physical interfaces , “eth0” and “eth1”.
Logical interfaces, as in Solarsi, are indicated with <interface>:n (for example eth0:1).
Different from Solaris, with Linux it is possibile to configure a logical interface “:0”
(eth0:n con n=0,1,2,...); but we prefer, as in Solaris and HP-UX, to use “1” as first logical
interface.
# ifconfig -a
eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:30:6E:11:62:D1
inet addr:192.168.206.241 Bcast:192.168.206.255 Mask:255.255.255.0
UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX packets:711872730 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0
TX packets:777208669 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0
collisions:0 txqueuelen:100
RX bytes:3334306770 (3179.8 Mb) TX bytes:3592472187 (3426.0 Mb)
Interrupt:11 Base address:0xf000
eth0:1 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:30:6E:11:62:D1


BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX bytes:0 (0.0 b) TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)
Interrupt:11 Base address:0x1000
lo Link encap:Local Loopback

inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0
UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1

7 Linux
Configuration files are in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ directory (both physical and logi-

cal interfaces) :
-rw------- 3 root root 169 Mar 8 2002 ifcfg-eth0

-rw------- 1 root root 138 Mar 8 2002 ifcfg-eth0:1
-rw------- 3 root root 73 Dec 5 2001 ifcfg-eth1
…
The content of the configuration files (eth0 physical, eth0:1 logical) are shown :
# more ifcfg-eth0
DEVICE=eth0
ONBOOT=yes
BOOTPROTO=static
IPADDR=192.168.206.241
NETMASK=255.255.255.0
TYPE=Ethernet
USERCTL=no
NETWORK=192.168.206.0
BROADCAST=192.168.206.255
PEERDNS=no
#
#
# more ifcfg-eth0:1
DEVICE=eth0:1
ONBOOT=yes
BOOTPROTO=static
IPADDR=192.168.206.242
NETMASK=255.255.255.0
TYPE=Ethernet
USERCTL=no
BROADCAST=192.168.206.255
#
To configure a new logical interface (for example eth0:2) ifcfg-eth0:2 file has to be created
and configured.
It is possibile (and it is an easy way) to copy the file ifcfg-eth0:1 and to modify only some
parameters (device name, IP address, ...)
#cp –p ifcfg-eth0:1 ifcfg-eth0:2

7 Linux
This new file ifcfg-eth0:2 has to be modified, for example as shown:
DEVICE=eth0:2
ONBOOT=yes
BOOTPROTO=static
IPADDR=192.168.206.243
NETMASK=255.255.255.0
TYPE=Ethernet
USERCTL=no
BROADCAST=192.168.206.255
This new logical interface “eht0:2” has to be activated with ifup command (which is a
symbolic link to /etc/sbin/ifup command )
# ifup eth0:2
# ifconfig -a



BROADCAST MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1
RX bytes:0 (0.0 b) TX bytes:0 (0.0 b)
Interrupt:11 Base address:0x1000

7 Linux
Note: it is possibile to configure a new logical interface (for example eth0:2) with the follo-
wing command :
ifconfig eth0:2 192.168.206.243 netmask 255.255.255.0 up
but with this way the configuration file ifcfg-eth0:2 is not created and with a shutdown of
the server, at the next restart the IP alias configuration is lost.

8 Windows
8 Windows
With Microsoft Windows there are several differences, starting from the commands to
check IP configuration (“ipconfig” instead of “ifconfig” as in UNIX and Linux).
In “Control Panel” select and click on “Network Connections”
Select “Local Area Connection”, right-click, select “Properties”
Select “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)”, click on “Properties” button.

8 Windows
Click on “Advanced ...” button
In “IP Settings” tab. in “IP addresses” click on “Add ...” button
Insert IP address and Subnet mask (in our example 192.168.197.159 and 255.255.255.0)

8 Windows
In “IP settings” now there is also this new logical interface.
From a command prompt we can check IP configuration with

“ipconfig /all” command

9 References
9 References
● RFC 1918 “Address Allocation for Private Internets”

IP Aliasing HowTo en

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

IP Aliasing HowTo en

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

IP Aliasing HowTo

IP Aliasing HowTo - Gianluca Sironi 1

2 IP Aliasing HowTo di Gianluca Sironi

IP Aliasing HowTo - Gianluca Sironi 3

2 FDL (Free Documentation License)

This document is released under FDL (Free Documentation License)

Copyright © 2007 Gianluca Sironi

GFDL is available under: http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html

4 IP Aliasing HowTo di Gianluca Sironi

In UNIX and Linux we use mostly the command “ifconfig” to show/add/configure/remove

IP Aliasing HowTo - Gianluca Sironi 5

We start from an IP configuration with a physical interface “en0” with IP address

Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.

Minimum Configuration & Startup

Select “Further Configuration”

6 IP Aliasing HowTo di Gianluca Sironi

Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.

Select “Network Interfaces”

Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.

Network Interface Selection

Select “Network Interfaces Selection”

Network Interface Selection

Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.

List All Network Interfaces

Select “Configure Aliases”

IP Aliasing HowTo - Gianluca Sironi 7

Move cursor to desired item and press Enter.

Add an IPV6 Network Alias

Select “Add an IPV4 Network Alias”

The available network interfaces are shown.

Available Network Interfaces

en0 Standard Ethernet Network Interface

In our example we select en0

Add an IPV4 Network Alias

Type or select values in entry fields.

* IPV4 ADDRESS (dotted decimal) []

8 IP Aliasing HowTo di Gianluca Sironi

Command: OK stdout: yes stderr: no

Before command completion, additional instructions may appear below.

IP Aliasing HowTo - Gianluca Sironi 9

We start from an IP configuration with a physical interface hme0 and IP address

#ifconfig hme0:1 plumb

#ifconfig hme0:1 192.168.28.29 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 192.168.28.255

Logical interface “hme0:1” has to be “active” (put in “UP” status)

#ifconfig hme0:1 plumb 192.168.28.29 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 192.168.28.255 up

10 IP Aliasing HowTo di Gianluca Sironi

We check IP configuration with the ifconfig command:

#ifconfig hme0 addif 192.168.28.30 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 192.168.28.255 up

We check IP configuration with the ifconfig command:

IP Aliasing HowTo - Gianluca Sironi 11

#ifconfig hme0 addif 192.168.28.30 up

It is always better to specify every IP configuration parameter (netmask, broadcast ...)

12 IP Aliasing HowTo di Gianluca Sironi

IP configuration information are cointained (and configurable) in the file

IP Aliasing HowTo - Gianluca Sironi 13

In our example we configure a new logical interface “lan1:1” editing file

Different from Solaris, it is not necessary to “plumb” the interface “lan1:1”;

14 IP Aliasing HowTo di Gianluca Sironi

In this example we have two physical interfaces , “eth0” and “eth1”.

We check IP configuration with the ifconfig command:

eth0:1 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:30:6E:11:62:D1

eth1 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:30:6E:11:62:D2