Using Command Line to View IP Configuration:

Title: Using Command Line to View IP Configuration

Introduction:

In this article, we aim to guide users on how to use the command line to view IP configuration. An IP configuration is a set of network settings that determines how your device interacts with other devices on the network. This information is extremely useful for network troubleshooting and configuration tasks. Although there are graphical user interfaces (GUI) for showing these details, they might not always be available, especially if you’re connected to a server remotely. That’s where the command line comes in handy.

Let’s dive into the step-by-step instructions to view IP configuration using command line:

Step 1: Open the Command Line

On Windows:

1.1. Press the Windows key + R. This will open the Run dialog box.
1.2. Type ‘cmd’ and press Enter. This will open the Command Prompt.

On MacOS:

1.1. Press Command + Space to open Spotlight
1.2. Type ‘Terminal’ and press Enter.

On Linux:

1.1. Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the terminal.

Step 2: Using the ‘ipconfig’ Command (Windows)

In the command prompt, type ‘ipconfig’ and press Enter. This command will display the IP configuration for all network interfaces on your machine.

Example:

“`
> ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Ethernet:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : domain.com
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.2
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
“`

Step 3: Using the ‘ifconfig’ Command (Linux & MacOS)

In the terminal, type ‘ifconfig’ and press Enter. This will display the IP configuration for all network interfaces on your machine.

Example:

“`
$ ifconfig

eth0: flags=4163 mtu 1500
inet 192.168.1.2 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 192.168.1.255
inet6 fe80::a00:27ff:fe4e:66a1 prefixlen 64 scopeid 0x20 ether 08:00:27:4e:66:a1 txqueuelen 1000 (Ethernet)
RX packets 19357 bytes 2208848 (2.1 MiB)
RX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 frame 0
TX packets 13404 bytes 1778070 (1.6 MiB)
TX errors 0 dropped 0 overruns 0 carrier 0 collisions 0
“`

Step 4: Understanding the Output

The output from these commands will provide you with key details about your network interfaces, such as:

– IPv4 Address: The IP address currently assigned to this network interface.
– Subnet Mask: This identifies the network portion of the IP address.
– Default Gateway: The IP address of your network gateway, which connects your machine to other networks.

Conclusion:

By mastering these command line instructions, you can navigate your way around your system’s network configuration with ease, making troubleshooting and network adjustments a breeze. Remember, the best way to learn is by doing, so don’t hesitate to open your command line interface and start exploring your IP configuration.