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Asked: 2024-09-27T09:43:13+05:30 In:

What is the correct method to completely restart the network on an Ubuntu Server 18.04 that uses Netplan for network configuration?

I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the best way to completely restart the network on my Ubuntu Server 18.04, and I’m hitting a bit of a wall here. I recently switched my configuration to use Netplan, and while I’m getting the hang of it, I still feel like I’m missing some crucial pieces when it comes to managing the network effectively.

So here’s my situation: I made some changes to the Netplan configuration files, and I need to ensure that those changes take effect. I’ve seen a couple of commands thrown around in forums, but I’m really not sure which ones are necessary and in what order. I’ll be honest; I don’t want to mess things up and end up taking the server offline for an extended period. That would be a total nightmare.

From what I gathered, I should probably apply the configuration after it’s modified, but then what? Is there a specific command to use for restarting the whole network service properly? Also, I’ve heard about the ‘systemctl’ command and things like ‘netplan apply,’ but I want to know if there’s a step that I might be overlooking.

I’ve also read somewhere that simply rebooting the server could work too, but that feels a bit heavy-handed for a network restart, don’t you think? I mean, I want to avoid any unnecessary downtime or disruptions to services, especially since this server handles some critical stuff for my little project.

If anyone has gone through this process and could walk me through the correct steps, I would really appreciate it. Any tips on best practices for making network changes in a way that’s smooth and minimizes any potential headaches would be awesome as well. Thanks in advance for your help!

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    1. Restarting Network on Ubuntu Server 18.04

      Restarting Network on Ubuntu Server 18.04

      If you made changes to your Netplan configuration and want to apply them, you’re on the right track! Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you out without making your server disappear from the network.

      Steps to Apply Netplan Changes

      1. Edit your Netplan configuration file:
        Usually located in /etc/netplan/. Use a text editor (like nano or vim) to modify the YAML file.
      2. Check your configuration for errors:
        Run the command:
        netplan try
        This will test your changes and give you a chance to revert if it doesn’t work.
      3. Apply the configuration:
        If everything looks good, use:
        sudo netplan apply
        This command will apply your changes without needing a full reboot.

      Restarting the Network Service

      It’s generally not necessary to restart the entire network service after applying your Netplan configuration with netplan apply. However, if you want to, you can use:

      sudo systemctl restart networking

      This command restarts the networking service, but be careful as it might drop active connections temporarily.

      Rebooting the Server

      Rebooting might seem like a quick fix, but yeah, it’s a bit heavy-handed—especially if you’re looking to avoid downtime. Only consider it if you’re facing issues that you can’t resolve with the previous steps.

      Best Practices

      • Always backup your configuration files before making changes.
      • Look at the logs for errors if something isn’t working. Use journalctl -xe after erroneous attempts.
      • Create a plan for reverting changes if something breaks.
      • Testing your configuration with netplan try is a solid step!

      So, take it slow, and don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you get stuck. Good luck with your networking endeavors!



    2. To restart the network on your Ubuntu Server 18.04 after making changes to the Netplan configuration files, the first step is to ensure that your changes are correctly defined in the YAML files located in the ‘/etc/netplan/’ directory. After modifying your configuration file, you should validate the syntax to avoid any issues. You can do this by running the command sudo netplan try. This command allows you to test the configuration before applying it. If your configuration is valid, proceed to apply it by using sudo netplan apply. This command activates your new network configuration without requiring a full system reboot, minimizing downtime for your services.

      If you encounter issues or need to restart the entire network service, instead of rebooting the server—which can be heavy-handed—you can use sudo systemctl restart systemd-networkd if you’re using systemd for managing the network. Alternatively, sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager is applicable if NetworkManager is managing your interfaces. Remember to check the status of your network interfaces using ip a or ifconfig to ensure everything is functioning correctly. As a best practice, always keep a backup of your original Netplan configuration files and consider deploying your changes during a maintenance window or in off-peak hours to further reduce potential disruptions.


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