Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.07.14
What is the naming convention for network interfaces in modern Linux?
Modern names are "predictable": a type prefix (en/wl/ww) plus the hardware location (e.g. enp0s3 = Ethernet on PCI bus 0, slot 3).
The old eth0, eth1, wlan0 names were assigned in detection order, so a name could change between boots if hardware was added — a nightmare for scripts and firewall rules. Predictable Network Interface Names fix this by deriving the name from the device's physical location, which doesn't move. The same NIC gets the same name every boot.
Type prefix:
| Prefix | Type |
|---|---|
| en | Ethernet |
| wl | WLAN (wireless) |
| ww | WWAN (mobile broadband) |
Location suffix:
| Suffix | Meaning |
|---|---|
| oN | Onboard device, index N (e.g. eno1) |
| sN | Hotplug slot N (e.g. ens3) |
| pMsN | PCI bus M, slot N (e.g. enp0s8) |
Reading examples:
enp0s3→ Ethernet, PCI bus 0, slot 3wlp4s0→ Wireless, PCI bus 4, slot 0eno1→ onboard Ethernet, device 1
Older systems may still show the legacy eth0/wlan0 scheme.