How to use the command ifmetric (with examples)

The ifmetric command is an IPv4 route metrics manipulation tool. It allows you to set or reset the priority of a specified network interface. The priority is used to determine the order in which network interfaces are used for network traffic. A higher number indicates a lower priority.

Use case 1: Set the priority of the specified network interface

Code:

sudo ifmetric interface value

• sudo is used to run the command with root privileges.
• ifmetric is the command itself.
• interface is the name of the network interface you want to set the priority for. Replace it with the actual interface name, such as eth0 or wlan0.
• value is the priority value you want to set for the interface. A higher value indicates a lower priority.

Motivation:

Setting the priority of a network interface can be useful when you have multiple interfaces and want to control which one is used for network traffic. For example, a higher priority can be assigned to an interface with a faster connection, ensuring that it is used more often.

Example:

sudo ifmetric eth0 100

Explanation:

In this example, we are setting the priority of the network interface eth0 to 100. This means that eth0 will have a lower priority compared to other interfaces with a lower priority value.

Use case 2: Reset the priority of the specified network interface

Code:

sudo ifmetric interface 0

• sudo is used to run the command with root privileges.
• ifmetric is the command itself.
• interface is the name of the network interface you want to reset the priority for. Replace it with the actual interface name, such as eth0 or wlan0.
• 0 is the value to reset the priority. Setting it to 0 will reset the priority to its default value.

Motivation:

Sometimes, you may need to reset the priority of a network interface to its default value. This can be useful when you have made changes to the priority and want to revert them.

Example:

sudo ifmetric eth0 0

Explanation:

In this example, we are resetting the priority of the network interface eth0 to its default value. This will restore the original priority of eth0.

Conclusion:

The ifmetric command provides a simple way to set or reset the priority of network interfaces. By understanding how to use this command effectively, you can manage the routing of network traffic and optimize your network connections.