Configuring network settings in AlmaLinux 10 is an essential skill for Linux administrators, DevOps engineers, and server operators. The RHEL-compatible enterprise Linux distribution AlmaLinux 10 is based on NetworkManager and applications such as nmcli and nmtui to handle IP addresses, DNS configuration, gateways, and network interfaces. Be it a cloud server, VPS, or an on-prem infrastructure, the correct setup of the static IP addresses, DHCP networking, and DNS resolvers will guarantee that your connection is stable and your server is functioning properly.
This guide will teach you how to set AlmaLinux 10 network configuration using the nmcli commands, interactive nmtui, and NetworkManager key files.
Table of Content
How to Configure Network Settings on AlmaLinux 10
1. Understanding NetworkManager on AlmaLinux 10
2. Checking Network Interfaces and IP Addresses
3. Configuring a Static IP Address with nmcli
4. Setting up Network Settings using nmtui (Text UI)
5. DNS Configuration and Setting Hostname
6. Configuring DHCP (Dynamic IP Address)
7. Adding a New Network Interface Connection
9. Network Security Basics and Firewall
How to Configure Network Settings on AlmaLinux 10
Administrators usually set network settings on AlmaLinux 10 using NetworkManager and the nmcli command-line tool to manage interfaces, IP addresses, gateways, and DNS servers. The initial step is to verify the available interfaces with ip addr or nmcli device status, and finally to configure the connection with either DHCP (ipv4.method auto) or a fixed IP (ipv4.method manual) and the required address, subnet, gateway, and DNS values.
Once the changes have been applied via nmcli connection up <interface>, ensure that the connection is established by running ping or ip a. A correct AlmaLinux 10 network setup provides stable server connectivity, good remote access, and optimal Linux server performance on cloud, VPS, or enterprise platforms.
1. Understanding NetworkManager on AlmaLinux 10
AlmaLinux 10, similarly to its RHEL counterpart, uses NetworkManager to configure the network. The ifcfg scripts found in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ are no longer used in RHEL 9 and are completely eliminated in RHEL 10 / AlmaLinux 10. The connections between networks are now saved as .nmconnection keyfiles in the system-connections directory (/etc/NetworkManager).
Check to see that NetworkManager is running:
|
systemctl status NetworkManager |
|---|
Enable and start if not running.
|
systemctl enable –now NetworkManager |
|---|
2. Checking Network Interfaces and IP Addresses
Audit your existing network setup first before changes are implemented. AlmaLinux 10 uses predictable network interface names like ens160, eth0, or enp3s0, depending on the hardware.
List all interfaces and IP addresses.
Display network interfaces and IPs.
|
ip addr show |
|---|
Small overview of the entire device.
|
nmcli device status |
|---|
List all current connections.
|
nmcli connection show |
|---|
Let’s show the routing table.
|
ip route show |
|---|
3. Configuring a Static IP Address with nmcli
The most common network configuration task on servers is to set a static IP address on AlmaLinux 10. The fixed IP is necessary because you do not want your server to change its address every time it goes online, which is very crucial to web servers, database hosts, and SSH access.
STEP 01: Find interface name
Run nmcli device status to find the name of your target interface.
|
nmcli device status |
|---|
STEP 02: Configure IP address
nmcli connection modify can be used to give your preferred IP and subnet mask. Specify IP address and subnet.
|
nmcli connection modify ens160 IPv4.address 192.168.1.100/24 |
|---|
STEP 03: Set gateway & DNS
Set up the default route and DNS resolver to route to the internet.
|
nmcli connection modify ens160 IPv4.gateway 192.168.1.1 |
|---|
Set primary and secondary DNS.
|
nmcli connection modify ens160 IPv4.dns “1.1.1.1 8.8.8.8” |
|---|
Switch to manual (disable DHCP).
|
nmcli connection modify ens160 IPv4.method manual |
|---|
Step 04: Reconnect to apply changes
Now, reconnect the network to apply the modifications.
|
nmcli connection down ens160 && nmcli connection up ens160 |
|---|
STEP 05: Apply and verify
Test the connection by bouncing to check that the configuration is in effect. Let’s see static IP using nmcli (change ens160 to your interface).
|
nmcli |
|---|
SSH alert: When using SSH, running the connection down will kill your connection. Single nmcli connection modify can edit all parameters simultaneously, and reboot – or nmcli device reapply ens160 can be a gentler apply.
Use a command to set all the parameters including static IP configuration.
|
nmcli connection modify ens160 \ IPv4.address 192.168.1.100/24 \ IPv4.gateway 192.168.1.1 \ IPv4.dns “1.1.1.1 8.8.8.8” \ IPv4.method manual \ connection.autoconnect yes |
|---|
4. Setting up Network Settings using nmtui (Text UI)
Nmtui (NetworkManager Text User Interface) will be the best choice in case you want an interactive menu-based interface as opposed to typing down commands. It is already installed in all AlmaLinux 10 systems.
|
nmtui |
|---|
When you get inside nmtui, use the arrow keys and Enter. Click on Edit a connection and hit Enter.
Choose your network interface (e.g., ens160).
Change Automatic to Manual Under IPv4 Configuration. Then, press Add next to Addresses and enter your IP (e.g., 192.168.1.100/24). Enter the Gateway (192.168.1.1) and DNS servers. Finally, click the OK button and select Activate a connection to implement.
Pro tip: nmtui works best with headless server configurations, where you desire guided configuration without learning nmcli syntax. It also is compatible with simple terminal emulators when using over SSH.
5. DNS Configuration and Setting Hostname
Let’s see the system hostname.
|
hostnamectl |
|---|
Time is a complete qualified domain name (FQDN).
|
hostnamectl set-hostname webserver.example.com |
|---|
Let’s verify the system hostname.
|
hostnamectl |
|---|
Configuring DNS Resolvers
NetworkManager is used to manage DNS on AlmaLinux 10, and set DNS via nmcli. Let’s create DNS servers (Cloudflare + Google).
|
nmcli connection modify ens160 IPv4.dns “1.1.1.1 8.8.8.8” nmcli connection up ens160 |
|---|
Verify DNS resolution.
|
cat /etc/resolv.conf |
|---|
6. Configuring DHCP (Dynamic IP Address)
In order to revert an interface to DHCP (after setting a fixed IP). Let’s switch to DHCP mode/automatic.
|
nmcli connection modify ens160 IPv4.method auto nmcli connection modify ens160 IPv4.address “” nmcli connection modify ens160 IPv4.gateway “” nmcli connection modify ens160 IPv4.dns “” nmcli connection up ens160 |
|---|
7. Adding a New Network Interface Connection
To add a second NIC or to give a named connection profile to an interface without one (yet). Let’s add a new static Ethernet connection.
|
nmcli connection add \ type ethernet \ con-name “LAN-static” \ ifname eth1 \ ipv4.addresses 10.0.0.50/24 \ ipv4.gateway 10.0.0.1 \ ipv4.dns “1.1.1.1” \ ipv4.method manual |
|---|
Now, add a new DHCP connection.
|
nmcli connection add type ethernet con-name “eth1-dhcp” ifname eth1 ipv4.method auto |
|---|
8. Configuring Static Routes
You have to specify the static routes when your AlmaLinux server has to communicate with the hosts that belong to other networks. Let’s add a static route using nmcli (survives reboots).
|
nmcli connection modify ens160 \ +ipv4.routes “10.10.0.0/16 192.168.1.254” |
|---|
Apply the change.
|
nmcli device reapply ens160 |
|---|
Finally, verify routes.
|
ip route show |
|---|
You can remove a static route.
|
nmcli connection modify ens160 \ -ipv4.routes “10.10.0.0/16 192.168.1.254” |
|---|
9. Network Security Basics and Firewall
The default firewall daemon in AlmaLinux 10 is firewalld. Firewall rules and network configuration operate in tandem- with a static IP you can do nothing with unless the firewall allows your service ports to pass.
Let’s check firewalld status.
|
systemctl status firewalld |
|---|
Allow SSH, HTTP, and HTTPS permanently.
|
firewall-cmd –permanent –add-service={ssh,http,https} |
|---|
Now, allow a custom port (e.g., 8080/tcp).
|
firewall-cmd –permanent –add-port=8080/tcp |
|---|
Reload to apply changes
|
firewall-cmd –reload |
|---|
You can also list all rules.
|
firewall-cmd –list-all |
|---|
Conclusion
To configure network settings on AlmaLinux 10, use the nmcli command-line tool powered by NetworkManager, the default and only supported networking system in AlmaLinux 10. Run nmcli connection modify <interface> IPv4.address <IP/prefix> IPv4.gateway <gateway> IPv4.dns “<DNS>” IPv4.method manual to assign a static IP, then apply it with nmcli connection up <interface>.
For an interactive approach, launch nmtui in the terminal and navigate the menu to set your IP, gateway, and DNS without memorizing any commands. All configurations are stored as keyfiles in /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/ and persist across reboots as long as connection.autoconnect is set to yes.
Leave feedback about this