How to Configure Your Network on Alpine Linux

Alpine Linux is a lightweight and efficient operating system ideal for server and container deployments. Network configuration is crucial for these environments.

Step 1: Verify Network Interface

Run the command:

ifconfig -a

This will show all available network interfaces. Common interface names include eth0, wlan0, or enp0s3.

Step 2: Set a Static IP Address

Edit /etc/network/interfaces:

vi /etc/network/interfaces

Add the following configuration:

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
    address 192.168.0.105
    netmask 255.255.255.0
    gateway 192.168.0.1

Replace the values with your network settings.

Step 3: Restart Network

Apply the changes:

/etc/init.d/networking restart

Or alternatively:

rc-service networking restart

Step 4: Verify Network Settings

Check your network configuration:

ifconfig

You should see your static IP address assigned to the interface.

Step 5: Test Network Connection

Test connectivity:

ping 8.8.8.8

Test DNS resolution:

ping google.com

Advanced Configuration Options

DNS Configuration

Edit /etc/resolv.conf:

nameserver 8.8.8.8
nameserver 8.8.4.4

Network Bonding

For redundancy, you can bond multiple interfaces:

auto bond0
iface bond0 inet static
    address 192.168.0.105
    netmask 255.255.255.0
    gateway 192.168.0.1
    bond-slaves eth0 eth1
    bond-mode 802.3ad
    bond-miimon 100

VLAN Configuration

To configure VLANs:

auto eth0.100
iface eth0.100 inet static
    address 192.168.100.10
    netmask 255.255.255.0
    vlan-raw-device eth0

Firewall Setup

Alpine Linux uses iptables for firewall configuration:

apk add iptables
rc-update add iptables

Troubleshooting

If network doesn’t work:

1. Check cable connections
2. Verify interface status: ip link show
3. Check routing table: ip route show
4. Review system logs: dmesg | grep eth0

Conclusion

Proper network configuration ensures smooth and reliable Alpine Linux deployments. Always test your configuration thoroughly before deploying to production.