Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-31

How to Fix: ifconfig missing after Ubuntu 18.04 install

The net-tools package is no longer installed by default in Ubuntu 18.04 due to security concerns.

Quick Answer: Try installing the net-tools package using apt-get: sudo apt-get install net-tools

The net-tools package, which includes the ifconfig command, is no longer installed by default in Ubuntu 18.04 due to a change in policy. This change was made to encourage users to use more modern alternatives like ip addr show, ip route show, and ip link show.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • [Cause]

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Method 1: Install net-tools manually

  1. Step 1: Open the terminal and run sudo apt-get update
  2. Step 2: Run sudo apt-get install net-tools

Method 2: Use alternative commands

  1. Step 1: Run ip addr show to display IP addresses and subnet masks for all network interfaces.
  2. Step 2: Use ip route show to view the routing table.

🎯 Final Words

By following these steps, you can resolve the issue and regain access to the ifconfig command. Remember that using alternative commands like ip addr show, ip route show, and ip link show is not only compatible with modern systems but also provides more detailed information about your network configuration.

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