Netplan Survival Guide
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2025 4:13 am
Netplan is a modern network configuration tool, mainly used in Ubuntu-based Linux distributions. Its goal is to simplify the management of network interfaces through the use of YAML files . Before its introduction, network configuration in Linux was done through files like /etc/network/interfacesor other methods specific to the services used, like NetworkManageror systemd-networkd. With Netplan, these configurations are unified, providing a standard and accessible solution.
This guide is designed to show you how to use Netplan to efficiently ig data configure your network interfaces , whether you need to manage Ethernet connections, Wi-Fi, or even advanced configurations like VLANs and static routes .
History and origin of Netplan
Netplan was first introduced to the Ubuntu universe in version 17.10 (Artful Aardvark). Prior to this release, Linux server and system administrators often used traditional file /etc/network/interfacesand tools like ifup/down to manage their network interfaces. These methods, while widely used, were becoming increasingly limited in modern and complex network environments.
With the emergence of new needs, particularly around dynamic network management, the need for a tool that unifies the different network services has been felt. Netplan was designed to fill this gap. It acts as an overlay simplifying the management of systemd-networkd ( systemd 's network manager ) and NetworkManager . This allows administrators to use a single, simplified syntax, regardless of the underlying service.
Netplan 's choice for Ubuntu distributions also enabled a smoother transition to cloud infrastructures and virtualized environments, where tools like cloud-init benefit from automated and more flexible network configuration.
This guide is designed to show you how to use Netplan to efficiently ig data configure your network interfaces , whether you need to manage Ethernet connections, Wi-Fi, or even advanced configurations like VLANs and static routes .
History and origin of Netplan
Netplan was first introduced to the Ubuntu universe in version 17.10 (Artful Aardvark). Prior to this release, Linux server and system administrators often used traditional file /etc/network/interfacesand tools like ifup/down to manage their network interfaces. These methods, while widely used, were becoming increasingly limited in modern and complex network environments.
With the emergence of new needs, particularly around dynamic network management, the need for a tool that unifies the different network services has been felt. Netplan was designed to fill this gap. It acts as an overlay simplifying the management of systemd-networkd ( systemd 's network manager ) and NetworkManager . This allows administrators to use a single, simplified syntax, regardless of the underlying service.
Netplan 's choice for Ubuntu distributions also enabled a smoother transition to cloud infrastructures and virtualized environments, where tools like cloud-init benefit from automated and more flexible network configuration.