How to change network settings

[Alpha Tan]

I hear from one of my friend who said he is the expert on HP-UX that in order to change the network settings we need to edit several of files??

Can someone tell me is this true??

By my understand that change network settings like IP, Gateway and DNS Server IP, we just type this command "set_parms addl_netwrk" will do, does me doing the right thing??

You can direct send me a mail:
alphatan@celestica.com

Thanks...
.../at

[Patrick Wallek]

Actually, both of you are correct.

If you wish to change your network setting manually, you can do this by editing the files /etc/hosts and /etc/rc.config.d/netconf.

Or if you prefer to let the system do your work for you, you can use the set_parms command.

# set_parms hostname

will set the hostname of your system.

# set_parms ip_address

will set the ip address of your system

# set_parms addl_network

will set the subnet mask, dns info. and NIS info for your system.

[Michael Tully]

If you are uncomfortable in making these changes from the command line or use the 'set_parms' script, 'SAM' will also do this job for you as well.

[Alpha Tan]

I know three ways of changing Network settings, SAM, set_parms command line and vi. but which one is more danger ??

Like i had few system that run HP-UX, i took one of them to change network settings by used set_parms command line but why after than it appear desktop messaging system error? and it cause the others system unable to see this guy in the network.

thanks...
.../at

[Michael Tully]

The best way is to use 'SAM'. From what I've read even the set_parms script has given people problems. My advice is unless you know exactly what your changing in the /etc/rc.config.d/netconf file, don't do it. 'SAM' will make the necessary changes on your behalf.

[Tim D Fulford]

Hi all the above advice v.good. I get the feeling you would like to know which files are effected regardless of the methods employed....

/etc/hosts .. hosts file! need I say more!
/etc/rc.config.d/netconf network config, hostname, IP, routes.
/etc/rc.config.d/hp... there are a few of these related to the type of network card, e.g. hpbase100conf hppci100conf. They wil set the MAC addresses and full/half duplex.
/etc/resolv.conf DNS/NIS/etc resolution file
/etc/nsswitch.conf network services switch (choice options) file, i.e. look in DNS first, then files then NIS ...
/var/adm/inet.sec - internet security file

There are some security ones as well for ftp, do man ftpd as I can't remember them all.

I doubt these are them all of the files. They cover alot of what you were asking + some more related files. You also need to bare in mind that some of these files are generally sourced/looked at at boot time, so editing them may not produce the desired effect without a re-boot.

Tim

[Mihails Nikitins]

The most dangerous thing is to do something without clear understanding what you are doing.

I prefer manual editing of configuration files so that to be 100% sure what has been done. Surely, it requires understanding of the files.

I think reading manuals can bring you on the secure side of life. :-)

BR,
Mihails

[W.C. Epperson]

Good file list from Tim. I'm with Mikhail in preferring to do the file mods directly. I tell our sysadmins that they should always learn what's going on under the hood when they use an interface like SAM. Otherwise, when the interface corrupts the files for some reason, it will leave you alone in some dark alley.