HELP Gutsy is down and can't get up

[Nils Kassube]

Larry Alkoff wrote:
> My interfaces file now is:
> auto lo
> iface lo inet loopback
> address 127.0.0.1
> netmask 255.0.0.0
>
> auto eth0
> iface eth0 inet static
> address 192.168.1.4
> netmask 255.255.255.0
> gateway 192.168.1.254
> network 192.168.1.0
> broadcast 192.168.1.255
>
> I compared the old Feisty interface file to the one above.
> I don't understand why the old Feisty interfaces file had no lines for
> network and broadcast but still worked perfectly.
>
> Do you suppose these parameters are picked up elsewhere?

You don't really need those lines as long as you use the old standard for 
the network classes [1]. Then the network, broadcast and netmask can be 
calculated from your IP address. Private networks [2] 192.168.x.y were 
defined to be class C networks with 192.168.x.0 being the network, 
192.168.x.255 being the broadcast address and 255.255.255.0 being the 
netmask. It doesn't hurt to have those lines but they are redundant as 
long as you use keep the standard size for the adress range.

[1] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classful_network>
[2] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_network>


Nils