How to Configure Networking with systemd-networkd on Linux

For administrators running minimal Linux environments or servers without a GUI, using a heavy networking manager like NetworkManager or netplan may be unnecessary. Enter systemd-networkd — a lightweight, native option for managing network configurations efficiently.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to set up networking using systemd-networkd, whether you need a static IP or DHCP.

1. Identify Your Network Interface

Before configuring the network, determine the name of your interface:

ip link

You’ll see output like eth0, ens3, or enp1s0. Note down the correct interface name, as you’ll use it in configuration files.

2. Disable Other Network Managers

To prevent conflicts, disable any existing network management services like NetworkManager:

sudo systemctl disable NetworkManager

sudo systemctl stop NetworkManager

If you’re using netplan (common in Ubuntu), make sure it’s disabled or removed as well.

3. Enable systemd-networkd

Now enable and start the systemd-networkd service:

sudo systemctl enable systemd-networkd

sudo systemctl start systemd-networkd

4. Create a Network Configuration File

Next, you’ll create a .network configuration file in /etc/systemd/network/. Use a descriptive name, like 10-wired.network.

For Static IP Configuration:

[Match]

Name=eth0

[Network]

Address=192.168.1.100/24

Gateway=192.168.1.1

DNS=8.8.8.8

For DHCP Configuration:

[Match]

Name=eth0

[Network]

DHCP=yes

Replace eth0 with your actual interface name and update IP/gateway as needed.

5. Set Up DNS with systemd-resolved

Enable DNS management via systemd-resolved:

sudo systemctl enable systemd-resolved

sudo systemctl start systemd-resolved

Then create a symbolic link for the resolver:

sudo ln -sf /run/systemd/resolve/resolv.conf /etc/resolv.conf

6. Restart and Verify

Apply the new configuration:

sudo systemctl restart systemd-networkd

Verify with:

networkctl status

ip a

If configured properly, you’ll see your interface active with the assigned IP address.

Conclusion

Whether you’re setting up a lab environment, a VPS, or a production Linux server without a GUI, systemd-networkd is a clean and reliable solution for managing network configurations. Its lightweight design and systemd integration make it ideal for modern Linux systems.

Setting up a fresh server or building out your dev environment? Don’t miss our internal guide on How to Install Apache Maven on Windows and Linux — a must-read for anyone managing build tools in hybrid environments.

ServerAdminz provides 24/7 Linux server management and network configuration support. Reach out to us today for expert assistance with server setup, recovery, and optimization.