This tutorial is for users who want to experiment a bit with Ubuntu Linux. It not for everyone, especially those with machines that are used in production.
If you know a thing or two about networking and IP networks, then you know that in most cases, each network card will only be assigned one IP address. It’s a one to one thing and that’s what we’re used to.
The thing with one network card and one IP address is, you can only host or run in single network service/port on a machine with one nic card and IP address. For example, if you wish to run a web server, on port 80, only one web server will listen on that one IP address and that port #. That’s how it’s designed to work.
So, instead of the one-to-one relation with network cards and IP addresses, you can create virtual network cards that can be assigned individual IP addresses. So, a single physical network card can host unlimited sub-nic cards or virtual nic. Each can then be assigned their own IP addresses with assigned ports.
This brief tutorial is going to show you how to do that in Ubuntu. It’s a great way to run and test multiple network services with single port # on a single computer with one network card.
To get started, run the commands to open the network interfaces file.
sudo gedit /etc/network/interfaces
Then add as many virtual network cards as you want by following the steps in the picture below. By default, Linux machine assigned eth0 name to the first network card. So if your machine has one network card, it will be named eth0.
To add virtual network cards, create more static cards and name them eth0:1, eth0:2, eth0:3, etc. (eth0 followed by colon and a number).
Also, for each network card you create, make sure each network is in a separate subnet.. this is networking 101.
When you’re done, save the file and reset the networking service by running the commands below.
sudo service networking restart
That’s it!
Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How to create virtual network cards in Ubuntu Linux?
To create virtual network cards in Ubuntu Linux, you can open the network interfaces file by running the command: sudo gedit /etc/network/interfaces. Then, add virtual network cards by following the steps outlined in the tutorial.
What is the benefit of creating virtual network cards in Ubuntu?
By creating virtual network cards in Ubuntu, you can assign individual IP addresses to each virtual card, allowing you to run and test multiple network services with a single port on a single computer that has only one physical network card.
How many IP addresses can be assigned to virtual network cards in Ubuntu?
You can assign unlimited IP addresses to virtual network cards in Ubuntu. Each virtual network card can have its own unique IP address along with assigned ports for hosting different network services.
What naming convention is used for virtual network cards in Ubuntu?
In Ubuntu, virtual network cards are named using a convention where the first physical network card is named eth0, and subsequent virtual network cards are named as eth0:1, eth0:2, eth0:3, and so on.
Can virtual network cards in Ubuntu host multiple services on the same port?
Yes, virtual network cards in Ubuntu allow you to host multiple network services on the same port. Each virtual network card can be assigned different services to run simultaneously.
Is creating virtual network cards in Ubuntu suitable for production machines?
Creating virtual network cards in Ubuntu is not recommended for production machines as it is more suitable for experimentation and testing purposes. Production machines should follow the traditional one-to-one relation with network cards and IP addresses.
What commands are used to open the network interfaces file in Ubuntu?
To open the network interfaces file in Ubuntu, you can use the command: sudo gedit /etc/network/interfaces. This allows you to modify and add virtual network cards as needed.
How can I test multiple network services using virtual network cards in Ubuntu?
You can test multiple network services using virtual network cards in Ubuntu by assigning different IP addresses and ports to each virtual card. This allows you to simulate running multiple services on a single computer with one physical network card.
