How-To Change Network Interface Name

The best way to rename a network interface is through udev.

Edit the file /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules to change the interface name of a network device.

The names of the network devices are listed in this file as follows :

# PCI device 0x11ab:0x4363 (sky2)
SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="?*",
ATTR{address}=="00:00:00:00:00:00",ATTR{dev_id}=="0x0", ATTR{type}=="1",
KERNEL=="eth*", NAME="eth0"

Rename network interface from eth0 to wan0

To rename interface eth0 to wan0, edit /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules file and change NAME="eth0" to NAME="wan0".

# PCI device 0x11ab:0x4363 (sky2)
SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="?*",
ATTR{address}=="00:00:00:00:00:00",ATTR{dev_id}=="0x0", ATTR{type}=="1",
KERNEL=="eth*", NAME="wan0"

For Centos/RHEL etc. Rename the network interface configuration file :

# cd etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/
# mv ifcfg-eth0 ifcfg-wan0

Edit the network interface configuration file and replace all occurrences of the old name eth0 with the new one wan0 :

# vi /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wan0

For Ubuntu etc. Edit the /etc/network/interfaces file and replace all occurrences of the old name eth0 with the new one wan0 :

# sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces

Test changes Reboot the system to test changes :

# reboot

Verify new settings :

# ifconfig -a

Rename network interface from eth1 back to eth0

Q : Why does my network interface name change?

A : The interface name of a network device increases if the MAC address of a network card changes.

Edit the file /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules.

Copy the new MAC address from eth1 to the line of your eth0 rule.

Delete the rule for eth1. Save and close the file.

For Centos/RHEL etc. Check the network interface configuration located under :

# vi /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0

Don't forget to replace the old MAC address with the new one.

For Ubuntu etc. Make sure /etc/network/interfaces file has correct configuration :

# sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces

Test changes Reboot the system to test changes :

# reboot

Verify new settings :

# ifconfig -a