---
layout: page
category-page: intermediate
category-title: Intermediate commands
tags: command IfConfig
author: Matteo Omenetti
title: IfConfig
---
<!-- Introduction -->
<i> IfConfig </i> stands for "<b>I</b>nterface <b>C</b>onfiguration". It is used
to configure, control, and query network interface parameters of your system. <br>
If you try running this command with no arguments, it will simply display information
about all network interfaces currently active. <br>
{% highlight bash %}
  ifConfig
{% endhighlight %}
The output sill resembles something like this, of course it changes from machine
to machine:

<pre>
en5: flags=8863 UP,BROADCAST,SMART,RUNNING,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST mtu 1500
	ether ac:de:48:00:11:22
	inet6 fe80::aede:48ff:fe00:1122%en5 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x8
	nd6 options=201 PERFORMNUD,DAD
	media: autoselect (100baseTX full-duplex)
	status: active

ap1: flags=8802 BROADCAST,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST mtu 1500
	ether f2:18:98:41:74:42
	media: autoselect
	status: inactive

  ...
</pre>
<!-- End of Introduction -->

If you want to view the configuration of all network interfaces, not just the ones currently active, you can use
flag <code>a</code>.
{% highlight bash %}
IiConfig -a
{% endhighlight %}

If you want to view the configuration of a specific interface, you can specify the name of the interface
you want to view after the command <i>IfConfig</i>:
{% highlight bash %}
  ifConfig ap1
{% endhighlight %}
This command will show only the configuration of ap1.

To enable an interface, you can use the command ifConfig with the name of the interface
you want to enable, followed by the key word <code>up</code>.
However, enabling or disabling a device, is a privilege reserved for the super user, therefore you also
have to use the command <code>sudo</code>.
{% highlight bash %}
   sudo ifConfig ap1 up
{% endhighlight %}

To disable an interface, you can follow the same procedure, this time using the key word <code>down</code>.
{% highlight bash %}
   sudo ifConfig ap1 down
{% endhighlight %}