Linux networking is a vast and complex topic. In this article, we'll focus on the networking stack and protocols.
The Linux networking stack is made up of several components, each with its own role to play.
At the heart of the Linux networking stack is the kernel. The kernel is responsible for managing all the hardware resources, including networking devices. It also implements the core networking protocols, such as TCP/IP.
On top of the kernel is the shell. The shell is a user interface that allows you to interact with the kernel. It provides a way to execute commands and run programs.
The shell uses configuration files to control the behavior of the kernel and the programs that run on top of it. The most important configuration files for networking are the /etc/hosts file, which maps hostnames to IP addresses, and the /etc/resolv.conf file, which defines the DNS servers that will be used to resolve hostnames.
There are many utilities that are used to configure and troubleshoot networking. Some of the most important ones are ifconfig, which is used to configure network interfaces, and ping, which is used to test connectivity.
The TCP/IP protocol stack is the set of protocols that are used to implement the core functionality of the Internet. It is made up of four layers:
The TCP/IP stack is implemented in the kernel, and the shell provides utilities for configuring and troubleshooting it.