Oracle Linux Basic Administration Series - Part 3 - How to Configure Network Settings in Oracle Linux

Network configuration is a fundamental part of Linux administration. Whether you’re managing a server or a virtual machine, you’ll often need to assign IP addresses, configure DNS, and manage connections.

In Oracle Linux, you can manage networks using:

• NetworkManager command-line tools (nmcli)

• Text User Interface (nmtui)

• Traditional config files (for advanced users)

  
  

In this blog, you’ll learn how to view, configure, and troubleshoot network settings step by step.

Step 1: Check Your Current Network Status

To see your active network interfaces:

ip addr show

or the shorter version:

ip a

To check if your system has internet access:

ping -c 4 google.com

Step 2: Using nmcli (Command Line)

nmcli is a powerful tool to configure and manage network interfaces without editing files manually.

List all connections:

nmcli connection show

Show active interfaces:

nmcli device status

Example output:

Step 3: Configure a Static IP Address

You can assign a static IP using nmcli as follows:

sudo nmcli connection modify "Wired connection 1" ipv4.addresses 192.168.1.50/24
sudo nmcli connection modify "Wired connection 1" ipv4.gateway 192.168.1.1
sudo nmcli connection modify "Wired connection 1" ipv4.dns "8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4"
sudo nmcli connection modify "Wired connection 1" ipv4.method manual
sudo nmcli connection up "Wired connection 1"

ip addr show

and

nmcli device show enp1s0

Step 4: Switch Back to DHCP

If you want your system to use automatic IP configuration via DHCP:

sudo nmcli connection modify "Wired connection 1" ipv4.method auto
sudo nmcli connection up "Wired connection 1"

Step 5: Using nmtui 

If you prefer a menu-style interface, nmtui is perfect for quick setups.

1. Run:

   sudo nmtui

2. You’ll see a simple blue-screen menu.

3. Choose:

   • Edit a connection

   • Activate a connection

   • Set system hostname

4. Use arrow keys and Enter to navigate.

5. Save your settings and quit.

6. Restart the network:

   sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

Step 6: View and Edit Network Configuration Files

Network settings are stored in:

/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/

To view a configuration file:

cat /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-enp1s0

Example file for a static IP:

DEVICE=enp1s0
BOOTPROTO=none
ONBOOT=yes
IPADDR=******
PREFIX=24
GATEWAY=192.168.1.1
DNS1=8.8.8.8
DNS2=8.8.4.4

After editing:

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

Step 7: Test and Troubleshoot Network Connectivity

Ping the gateway:

ping -c 4 192.168.1.1

Check DNS resolution:

nslookup google.com

Trace the route to a host:

traceroute google.com

If something fails, restart the network service:

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

Step 8: Set Hostname and Verify

Set a new hostname:

sudo hostnamectl set-hostname server1.example.com

Verify:

hostnamectl

You’e successfully learned how to view and configure network settings on Oracle Linux using both command-line and interactive tools.Understanding network setup is crucial for connecting servers, managing remote access, and enabling updates or services.

In the next post, we’ll move to user and group management — a core administrative task every Linux admin must master.

Summary

Task	Command
List devices	nmcli device status
Configure static IP	nmcli connection modify ...
Switch to DHCP	nmcli connection modify ... ipv4.method auto
Edit via UI	nmtui
Restart NetworkManager	systemctl restart NetworkManager
Set hostname	hostnamectl set-hostname newname