---
name: "ng_iface"
section: "4freebsd"
platform: "linux"
package: "freebsd-manpages"
version: "12.2-2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ng_iface/4freebsd"
---

# ng\_iface(4freebsd)

interface netgraph node type

## NAME

**ng\_iface** – interface netgraph node type

## SYNOPSIS

**#include \<netgraph/ng\_iface.h\>**

## DESCRIPTION

An **iface** node is both a netgraph node and a system networking interface. When an **iface** node is created, a new interface appears which is accessible via [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md). **Iface** node interfaces are named ng0, ng1, etc. When a node is shutdown, the corresponding interface is removed and the interface name becomes available for reuse by future **iface** nodes; new nodes always take the first unused interface. The node itself is assigned the same name as its interface, unless the name already exists, in which case the node remains unnamed.

An **iface** node has a single hook corresponding to each supported protocol. Packets transmitted via the interface flow out the corresponding protocol-specific hook. Similarly, packets received on a hook appear on the interface as packets received into the corresponding protocol stack. The currently supported protocols are IP and IPv6.

An **iface** node can be configured as a point-to-point interface or a broadcast interface. The configuration can only be changed when the interface is down. The default mode is point-to-point.

**Iface** nodes support the Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF).

## HOOKS

This node type supports the following hooks:

- *inet*

  Transmission and reception of IP packets.

- *inet6*

  Transmission and reception of IPv6 packets.

## CONTROL MESSAGES

This node type supports the generic control messages, plus the following:

- NGM\_IFACE\_GET\_IFNAME (**getifname**)

  Returns the name of the associated interface as a NUL-terminated ASCII string. Normally this is the same as the name of the node.

- NGM\_IFACE\_GET\_IFINDEX (**getifindex**)

  Returns the global index of the associated interface as a 32 bit integer.

- NGM\_IFACE\_POINT2POINT (**point2point**)

  Set the interface to point-to-point mode. The interface must not currently be up.

- NGM\_IFACE\_BROADCAST (**broadcast**)

  Set the interface to broadcast mode. The interface must not currently be up.

## SHUTDOWN

This node shuts down upon receipt of a NGM\_SHUTDOWN control message. The associated interface is removed and becomes available for use by future **iface** nodes.

Unlike most other node types, an **iface** node does *not* go away when all hooks have been disconnected; rather, and explicit NGM\_SHUTDOWN control message is required.

## ALTQ Support

The **ng\_iface** interface supports ALTQ bandwidth management feature. However, **ng\_iface** is a special case, since it is not a physical interface with limited bandwidth. One should not turn ALTQ on **ng\_iface** if the latter corresponds to some tunneled connection, e.g. PPPoE or PPTP. In this case, ALTQ should be configured on the interface that is used to transmit the encapsulated packets. In case when your graph ends up with some kind of serial line, either synchronous or modem, the **ng\_iface** is the right place to turn ALTQ on.

## Nesting

**ng\_iface** supports nesting, a configuration when traffic of one **ng\_iface** interface flows through the other. The default maximum allowed nesting level is 2. It can be changed at runtime setting [sysctl(8)](/sysctl/8.md) variable *net.graph.iface.max\_nesting* to the desired level of nesting.

## SEE ALSO

[altq(4)](/altq/4.md), [bpf(4)](/bpf/4.md), [netgraph(4)](/netgraph/4.md), [ng\_cisco(4)](/ng_cisco/4.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md), [ngctl(8)](/ngctl/8.md) sysctl

## HISTORY

The **iface** node type was implemented in FreeBSD 4.0.

## AUTHORS

Archie Cobbs ⟨*archie@FreeBSD.org*⟩