Network Management

Compiled by Amritanshu

June 12, 2025

Contents

Understanding IP Addresses 2

MAC Address 4

Socket Programming 5

Practical Networking Commands & Modes 6

Advanced nmcli Networking Commands & Concepts 9

Hostname, Name Resolution & IPv6 Configuration 12

Extra Tools and Resources 14

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Understanding IP Addresses

IP Address Basics
• IP Address uniquely identifies a device on a network.

• IPv4: 32-bit, 4 octets (e.g., 192.168.0.1).

• Each octet: 0–255. IPv4 supports 232 addresses.

• IPv6: 128-bit, supports 2128 addresses.

IP Classes
• Class A: 0 - 126

• Class B: 128 - 191

• Class C: 192 - 223

• Class D: 224 - 239 (Multicasting)

• Class E: 240 - 254 (Research)

• 127.x.x.x: Loopback (e.g., 127.0.0.1)

Types of IP Addresses
• Public IP

– Static: Fixed, less secure.

– Dynamic: Changes per session.

• Private IP

– Assigned via DHCP (e.g., 192.168.1.x)

• Dedicated IP

– Purchased by organizations.

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Computer Networks Network Management

Subnetting and Subnet Mask

• Subnetting divides large networks into smaller segments.

• Subnet Mask (e.g., 255.255.255.0): identifies network/host portions.

Visual Block: IP Address Breakdown

192.168.0.1 Network = 192.168.0, Host = 1

Amritanshu’s Notes Page 3

MAC Address

MAC Address Details

• MAC: Media Access Control address.

• 48-bit hardware address (e.g., A2:C1:39:42:51:61).

• Hardcoded into NIC, hex format.

• Example OUI: CC:46:D6 (Cisco)

Protocols Related to MAC

• ARP: Resolves IP to MAC.

• MAC Spoofing:

– Linux: macspoof
– Windows: Tictanium

Visual Block: ARP Mechanism

IP Address MAC Address
192.168.0.10 A2:C1:39:42:51:61

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Socket Programming

What is a Socket?
• Socket = IP Address + Port Number.

• Enables communication between two devices.

• Example: 192.168.1.255:1234

• Used in client-server model.

Working of Socket
1. Server creates and listens on socket.

2. Client connects to the server.

3. Communication begins.

Types of Sockets
• Datagram (UDP) – Connectionless.

• Stream (TCP) – Connection-based.

Visual Block: Socket Representation

Device IP Address Port

Client 192.168.1.20 5000
Server 192.168.1.255 1234

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Practical Networking Commands &
Modes

NIC Information Commands

• View all available NICs: ip link show

• Detailed info of a NIC: ip addr show <NIC NAME> (e.g., ip addr show
ens160)

• Details of all NICs: ip addr

• Status Keywords:

– UP: Interface is active.

– link/ether: MAC Address.
– inet: IPv4 address with subnet mask.

• View performance/statistics: ip -s link show ens160

Ping Routing Commands

• Check connectivity: ping 192.168.1.1

• Send specific number of packets: ping -c 4 192.168.1.6

• Ping IPv6 address: ping6 <IPv6 address>

• Note: If IPv6 is not active, it will show packet loss.

• Routing information: ip route

• See data path: traceroute google.com

• Legacy NIC config tool: ifconfig

• DHCP: Automatically assigns IP addresses.

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Computer Networks Network Management

Networking Modes Overview

1. Host-Only Mode

• VM ↔ Host: Communicate

• VM ↔ VM: Communicate

• VM ↔ LAN/NET: No Communication

2. Internal Mode

• VM ↔ Host: No Communication

• VM ↔ VM: Communicate

• VM ↔ LAN/NET: No Communication

3. Bridged Mode

• VM ↔ Host: Communicate

• VM ↔ VM: Communicate

• VM ↔ LAN/NET: Communicate

4. NAT Mode

• VM → Host: Communicate

• Host → VM: Port forwarding needed

• VM ↔ VM: No Communication

• VM ↔ LAN/NET: Port forwarding needed

NIC Connection Details (nmcli)

• View NIC status: nmcli dev status or nmcli device status

• NIC configuration file location (RHEL 7/8):

/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/

• Newer location: /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/

• Detailed NIC info: nmcli device show or nmcli dev show

• View all connections: nmcli con show or nmcli connection show

• Show active connections: nmcli con show -a or nmcli connection

show -a

Amritanshu’s Notes Page 7

Computer Networks Network Management

Additional Tips
• To add a new NIC to a VM: Go to VM Settings → Network → Add
Adapter

Amritanshu’s Notes Page 8

Advanced nmcli Networking
Commands & Concepts

Basic Connection Control

• Bring up a connection:

– nmcli con up ens161

– ifup amrit

• Bring down a connection: nmcli con down ens161

• Create a new connection:

nmcli con add type ethernet con-name met1 ifname ens161

• Check assigned IP: ip addr

• IP is assigned via DHCP.

Configuration File Location & Testing

• Check if connection config files exist:

– cd /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections
– ls

• Verify connection using ping: ping <new ip>

• Disable autoconnect at boot:

nmcli con mod amrit connection.autoconnect no

• Enable autoconnect at boot:

nmcli con mod amrit connection.autoconnect yes

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Computer Networks Network Management

Permissions & Static IP Setup

• Set user permission on a connection:
nmcli con mod amrit connection.permission user:amrit

• Reload all connections: nmcli con reload

• Create connection with static IP:

– nmcli con add type ethernet con-name amrit ifname ens224

ipv4.address 192.168.145.134/24 ipv4.dns 8.8.8.8 gw4
192.168.145.1 ipv4.method manual
– Gateway = gw4, DNS = 8.8.8.8

• Check if connection was created:

– nmcli dev status

– cd /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections

• Bring connection up: nmcli con up amrit1

• Verify using ping: ping 192.168.205.136

Multiple IP Addresses on NIC

• Add another IP to NIC:
nmcli con mod amrit1 +ipv4.addresses 192.168.1.100/24 +ipv4.dns
8.8.4.4

• Reload configuration: nmcli con reload

• Restart NetworkManager: systemctl restart NetworkManager

• Verify multiple IPs: ip addr

• Ping new IP to verify: ping <new ip>

• Remove an additional IP:

nmcli con modify amrit1 -ipv4.addresses 192.168.205.150/24

• Restart services and reconnect:

– systemctl restart NetworkManager

– nmcli con reload
– nmcli con down amrit1
– nmcli con up amrit1

Amritanshu’s Notes Page 10

Computer Networks Network Management

Ports and Socket Information

• List of well-defined ports: cd /etc/services

• Socket statistics: ss

• View TCP ports only: ss -ta

Amritanshu’s Notes Page 11

Hostname, Name Resolution & IPv6
Configuration

Hostname Configuration
• Check current hostname: hostname

• View static hostname configuration: cat /etc/hostname

• Set static hostname: hostnamectl set-hostname server

• Verify hostname change: hostname

• Full hostname details: hostnamectl status

• Pre-RHEL 6 hostname file: /etc/sysconfig/network

Name Resolution Process

• Stub Resolver: Converts hostname to IP (forward) and IP to hostname
(reverse).

• Configuration File: cat /etc/nsswitch.conf

• Host Mapping File: cat /etc/hosts

• DNS Resolver Configuration: cat /etc/resolv.conf

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Computer Networks Network Management

Static IPv6 Address Configuration

• Step 1: Create connection

– nmcli con add type ethernet con-name amritanshu ifname

ens264

• Step 2: Assign IPv6 address manually

– nmcli con mod amritanshu ipv6.address

’fddb:fe2a:ad1e::c0a8:8/64’ ipv6.method manual

• Step 3: Verify entry in config files

– cd /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections
– cat amritanshu.nmconnection

• Step 4: Apply and reload settings

– systemctl restart NetworkManager

– nmcli con reload
– ifconfig

Amritanshu’s Notes Page 13

Extra Tools and Resources

Networking Utilities Tools

• WHOIS/ARIN: Lookup IP ownership.

• CIDR: Efficient IP allocation.

• ARP Cache Table: Stores recent IP-MAC mappings.

• Ping, Traceroute, Netstat: CLI troubleshooting.

• Nmap: Port scanning auditing.

End of Notes – Compiled by Amritanshu

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