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Chapter 9. Network Configuration

Use this screen to customize the network settings of your Fedora system.

Manual network configuration of a Fedora system is often not required. Many networks have a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) service that automatically supplies connected systems with configuration data. By default, Fedora activates all network interfaces on your computer and configures them to use DHCP.

Fedora contains complete support for both IPv4 and IPv6. By default, Fedora configures network interfaces on your computer for both IPv4 and IPv6 support, and to use DHCP over both IPv4 and IPv6. For more information about IPv6, refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPv6.

Many home Internet routers and firewalls do not include support for IPv6. The default settings will not harm your system or router in any way. However, the speed of some services improves drastically if you disable IPv6 on any interface on a network that does not use IPv6.

[Tip] IPv6 and Boot Options

You can disable IPv6 support in the installation program using the boot option noipv6. The installation program does not configure network interfaces for IPv6 if you use this option. For more information on boot options, refer to Appendix A, Boot Options.

9.1. Network Devices

Fedora displays a list of network interfaces detected on your computer. Each interface must have a unique IP address on the network to which it is attached. The interface may receive this address from the network DHCP service.

Specify whether an interface should be automatically activated at boot time with the Active on Boot check box for that device. You may manually activate a network interface at any time after the system has booted.

[Note] Modem Configuration

The Network Configuration screen does not list modems. Configure these devices after installation with the Network utility. The settings for your modem are specific to your particular Internet Service Provider (ISP).

9.1.1. Configuring IPv4 and IPv6 Support

To add or remove IPv4 or IPv6 support, highlight the interface on the Network Device list and select Edit. Fedora displays the Edit Interface dialog. If the interface is not configured for IPv4 or IPv6 protocol, that entry is marked Disabled.

To change the selection, select or deselect the appropriate checkbox. If necessary, change the network address configuration for the interface.

[Tip] DHCP and Servers

If this computer system is a server, avoid DHCP if possible, and manually configure networking. Manual network configuration allows your server to join the local network even if the DHCP provider is down.

9.1.2. Configuring IPv4

To assign an unchanging, or static, IP address to your system, highlight the interface on the Network Device list and select Edit. Fedora then displays the Edit Interface dialog.

Deselect the Configure using DHCP check box, so that it is empty. Enter the IP Address and the appropriate Netmask for the interface, then select OK.

If you disable DHCP, automatic configuration of the Hostname is also disabled, and the Miscellaneous Settings options are enabled. Refer to Section 9.3, “Miscellaneous Settings” for more information.

9.1.3. Configuring IPv6

If IPv6 is enabled, the installation program defaults to using Automatic neighbor discovery. If you want to change the default, select either DHCPv6 for IPv6-compliant dynamic IP addressing, or Manual configuration to enter IP information manually.

To assign a static IPv6 address, enter the IP Address and the appropriate Prefix for the interface, then select OK.

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