Ubuntu Finally Looks To Go With Persistent Network Interface Names

While Linux distributions like Fedora and Mageia have adopted predictable/persistent network interface names, Ubuntu has not. However, that is looking to change and it might also be the case for upstream Debian.

Following last week's Ubuntu Online Summit for Ubuntu 15.10, Canonical's Martin Pitt sent out a message to the ubuntu-devel list proposing persistent network interface names for new Ubuntu Linux installations.

Rather than labeling the network interfaces eth0, eth1, wlan0, wlan1, etc, and instead use ifnames via udev for providing persistent network names based upon index/slot numbers/names. This change would affect not only Ubuntu on the desktop but also the Server, Touch, and Snappy editions. Those upgrading exisiting Ubuntu installations wouldn't be affected by this change.

Per the mailing list post, Martin will also be approaching the Debian camp about making the network interface name change upstream.