Linux › Module 4 › Lesson 1
ifconfig / ip addr
Find your IP address and network interfaces with ip and ifconfig
Opening
Know your address on the network
Every device on a network needs an IP address. Before you scan a target—or verify your VPN—you check your own interfaces. Linux gives you ip (modern) and ifconfig (classic) to see how you are connected.
1. ip addr — Modern Standard
Show all interfaces and addresses: ip addr ip a — short alias Look for inet under eth0, wlan0, or ens33—that is your IPv4. inet6 is IPv6. lo is loopback (127.0.0.1)—talking to yourself.
2. ifconfig — Still Everywhere
Older tutorials use ifconfig: ifconfig ifconfig eth0 On minimal systems you may need: sudo apt install net-tools For exams and legacy scripts, recognize the output even if you daily-drive ip.
3. What to Notice
Interface name
IP + subnet
Often shown as 192.168.1.50/24—your host and network size.
State UP/DOWN
Is the interface active? DOWN means no link or disabled.
Knowledge Check
Which command is the modern replacement for many ifconfig tasks?
Multiple choice
Knowledge Check
What is the loopback interface used for?
Multiple choice
Knowledge Check
inet in ip addr output usually refers to:
Multiple choice