The best way to rename a network interface is through udev.
Edit the file /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules to change the interface name of a network device.
The names of the network devices are listed in this file as follows:
# PCI device 0x11ab:0x4363 (sky2)
SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="?*",
ATTR{address}=="00:00:00:00:00:00",ATTR{dev_id}=="0x0", ATTR{type}=="1",
KERNEL=="eth*", NAME="eth0"
Rename network interface from eth0 to wan0
To rename interface eth0 to wan0, edit /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules file and change NAME="eth0" to NAME="wan0".
# PCI device 0x11ab:0x4363 (sky2)
SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="?*",
ATTR{address}=="00:00:00:00:00:00",ATTR{dev_id}=="0x0", ATTR{type}=="1",
KERNEL=="eth*", NAME="wan0"
For Centos/RHEL etc.
Rename the network interface configuration file:
# cd etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ # mv ifcfg-eth0 ifcfg-wan0
Edit the network interface configuration file and replace all occurrences of the old name eth0 with the new one wan0:
# vi /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-wan0
For Ubuntu etc.
Edit the /etc/network/interfaces file and replace all occurrences of the old name eth0 with the new one wan0:
# sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces
Test changes
Reboot the system to test changes:
# reboot
Verify new settings:
# ifconfig -a
Rename network interface from eth1 back to eth0
Q: Why does my network interface name change?
A: The interface name of a network device increases if the MAC address of a network card changes.
Edit the file /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules.
Copy the new MAC address from eth1 to the line of your eth0 rule.
Delete the rule for eth1. Save and close the file.
For Centos/RHEL etc.
Check the network interface configuration located under:
# vi /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0
Don’t forget to replace the old MAC address with the new one.
For Ubuntu etc.
Make sure /etc/network/interfaces file has correct configuration:
# sudo nano /etc/network/interfaces
Test changes
Reboot the system to test changes:
# reboot
Verify new settings:
# ifconfig -a
