---
name: "nameif"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "net-tools"
version: "2.10-3"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/nameif"
---

# nameif(8)

name network interfaces based on MAC addresses

## NAME

nameif - name network interfaces based on MAC addresses

## SYNOPSIS

**nameif \[-c configfile\] \[-s\]**\
 **nameif \[-c configfile\] \[-s\] {interface macaddress}**

## DESCRIPTION

**nameif** renames network interfaces based on mac addresses. When no arguments are given  */etc/mactab* is read. Each line  of it contains an interface name and a Ethernet MAC  address. Comments are allowed starting with #.  Otherwise the interfaces specified on the command line are processed. *nameif* looks for the interface with the given MAC address and renames it to the name given.

When the  *-s* argument is given all error messages go to the syslog.

When the  *-c* argument is given with a file name that file is read instead of /etc/mactab.

## NOTES

*nameif* should be run before the interface is up, otherwise it'll fail.

## FILES

/etc/mactab

## BUGS

Only works for Ethernet currently.