How to Customize a NIC Name

Using a systemd Link File

You can create a systemd link file with Ignition configs.

For example, to name NIC with the MAC address 12:34:56:78:9a:bc to "infra", place a systemd link file at /etc/systemd/network/25-infra.link using the Butane config snippet shown below:

Example: Customize NIC via systemd Link File

variant: fcos
version: 1.7.0
storage:
  files:
    - path: /etc/systemd/network/25-infra.link
      mode: 0644
      contents:
        inline: |
          [Match]
          MACAddress=12:34:56:78:9a:bc
          [Link]
          Name=infra

Using Udev Rules

Similarly, also through Ignition configs, to name NIC with the MAC address 12:34:56:78:9a:bc to "infra", create a udev rule at /etc/udev/rules.d/80-ifname.rules using the Butane config snippet shown below:

Example: Customize NIC via Udev Rules

variant: fcos
version: 1.7.0
storage:
  files:
    - path: /etc/udev/rules.d/80-ifname.rules
      mode: 0644
      contents:
        inline: |
          SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="?*", ATTR{address}=="12:34:56:78:9a:bc", ATTR{type}=="1", NAME="infra"

Networking in the Initramfs via Kernel Arguments

If networking in the initramfs is required, the kernel argument ifname= will dynamically create a udev rule to change the name of a NIC.

For example, to give the NIC with the MAC address 12:34:56:78:9a:bc a name of "infra", provide a ifname=infra:12:34:56:78:9a:bc kernel argument. A udev rule will be created like:

# cat /etc/udev/rules.d/80-ifname.rules
SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="?*", ATTR{address}=="12:34:56:78:9a:bc", ATTR{type}=="1", NAME="infra"

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