Plus when to use it
Linux Command Line Guide for Beginners 35 – ifconfig command
In Ubuntu and other Linux distributions, command line tools are usually the best way to interact with the internal workings of the computer. The ifconfig command is used to configure network settings on Linux.
Ifconfig is an older version of the ip command, but many still prefer ifconfig for its simpler syntax and ease of use. But how exactly do you use ifconfig for network interface configuration? Here's a walkthrough.
The ifconfig command is not installed by default in Linux distributions. Most system administrators install the package it belongs to when setting things up, but in some cases it may be missing from your computer. You can install it easily.