Step 1: Check current network configuration
Before assigning an IP address on your Linux computer, you need to check its current network configuration. This step ensures that you don’t assign a new IP address that conflicts with the current one. You can use the ifconfig command to check your IP configuration. This command displays your current IP address, network interfaces, and other network information.
Step 2: Open network configuration file
To assign an IP address on your Linux computer, you need to edit the network configuration file. You can use any text editor to open this file. However, most Linux distributions have a preinstalled text editor that you can use. In this example, we will use the nano editor by running the command: sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces
Step 3: Edit the network configuration file
Once you have opened the network configuration file, you will see a list of network interfaces. Below each interface, you will see an entry for the IP address. To assign a new IP address to your Linux computer, you need to add the new IP address below the current one. Make sure that the new IP address is unique and doesn’t conflict with any other IP address on the network.
Step 4: Add DNS server information
After adding the new IP address, you need to add the DNS server information. A DNS server is responsible for translating domain names to IP addresses. To do this, you need to add the DNS server IP address to the network configuration file. You can use the Google DNS server’s IP address, which is 8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4. Simply add the following lines to the network configuration file: dns-nameservers 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4
Step 5: Save changes and restart networking service
Once you have added the new IP address and DNS server information, you need to save the changes to the network configuration file. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + X and then Y to confirm the changes. After saving the changes, you need to restart the networking service by running the command: sudo service networking restart
Step 6: Check IP configuration
After restarting the networking service, you can check the new IP configuration by running the ifconfig command again. This command will display the updated IP address information, including the new IP address and DNS server information.
Conclusion
Assigning an IP address on a Linux computer is a simple process that requires some knowledge of the Linux command line interface. By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, you should be able to assign a new IP address and DNS server information to your Linux computer. Remember to check your current network configuration, edit the network configuration file, add DNS server information, save the changes, and restart the networking service. By doing this, you can connect your Linux computer to the internet or a local network without any issues.