Chapter 16. Creating a dummy interface
As a Red Hat Enterprise Linux user, you can create and use dummy network interfaces for debugging and testing purposes. A dummy interface provides a device to route packets without actually transmitting them. It enables you to create additional loopback-like devices managed by NetworkManager and makes an inactive SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) address look like a real address for local programs.
16.1. Creating a dummy interface with both an IPv4 and IPv6 address by using nmcli
You can create a dummy interface with various settings, such as IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. After creating the interface, NetworkManager automatically assigns it to the default public firewalld zone.
Procedure
Create a dummy interface named
dummy0with static IPv4 and IPv6 addresses:# nmcli connection add type dummy ifname dummy0 ipv4.method manual ipv4.addresses 192.0.2.1/24 ipv6.method manual ipv6.addresses 2001:db8:2::1/64NoteTo configure a dummy interface without IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, set both the
ipv4.methodandipv6.methodparameters todisabled. Otherwise, IP auto-configuration fails, and NetworkManager deactivates the connection and removes the device.
Verification
List the connection profiles:
# nmcli connection show NAME UUID TYPE DEVICE dummy-dummy0 aaf6eb56-73e5-4746-9037-eed42caa8a65 dummy dummy0
Additional resources
-
nm-settings(5)man page on your system
