2.1.x networking behavior - why?

Jeff Noxon (jeff@planetfall.com)
Mon, 16 Nov 1998 10:21:09 -0600

I recently upgraded my main machine to 2.1.x. This machine serves as a
router w/3 ppp interfaces, 2 ethernet interfaces. The new 2.1.x behavior
bothers me:

- Why aren't alias devices listed when I type "ifconfig" ?

- Why aren't "automatic" device routes listed in the routing table?

I appear to have the latest versions of the user-space tools (Debian
2.1)...

net-tools 1.45
ifconfig 1.33 (1998-03-02)

net-tools 1.45
route 1.94 (1997-09-21)
+NEW_ADDRT +RTF_IRTT +RTF_REJECT -NLS
AF:(inet) +UNIX +INET -INET6 +IPX +AX25 +NETROM +ATALK
HW: +ETHER +ARC +SLIP +PPP +TUNNEL +TR +AX25 +NETROM +FR

This behavior is annoying, because it's easy to completely screw up
the machine's routing and not know why -- the alias devices are hidden
unless you know they're there.

I don't see the benefit in hiding routes or interfaces from the admin.
Is there a technical reason to do so? I assume these routes must be
handled differently internally.

Nitpicks aside, it's working beautifully. The /proc interface is
fantastic.

Regards,

Jeff

--
It's time to close Windows and open source.
Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds.


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