ifconfig configures and displays network interfaces—the classic tool from the net-tools suite. On Debian, it is not its own package: you install net-tools with apt. Minimal images often ship only ip from iproute2, so ifconfig: command not found is normal until you install net-tools or migrate scripts to ip.
This guide covers install ifconfig on Debian for Debian 11 (Bullseye), 12 (Bookworm), and 13 (Trixie): fix command not found, install net-tools, verify addresses, compare with ip command, and uninstall. I ran these steps on Debian 13 and kept real terminal output below.
Tested on: Debian 13 (trixie); kernel 6.12.94+deb13-amd64; amd64; net-tools 2.10-1.3.
ifconfig. Searching packages.debian.org for ifconfig points at net-tools. apt install ifconfig will fail.
Choose an approach
| Approach | Best for | On test host |
|---|---|---|
apt install net-tools |
You need ifconfig for scripts, exams, or legacy docs |
ifconfig at /usr/sbin/ifconfig |
ip from iproute2 |
New work, automation, default on minimal Debian | ip -br addr works without net-tools |
| Both | Transition period while updating old scripts | Common on desktop images |
Most new guides should prefer ip. Install net-tools when something explicitly calls ifconfig.
Check whether ifconfig is installed
. /etc/os-release && echo "$PRETTY_NAME"
command -v ifconfig || echo "ifconfig: not in PATH"
dpkg -l net-tools 2>/dev/null | grep ^ii
apt-cache policy net-tools | head -8When net-tools is missing, you typically see:
ifconfig: not in PATHor, if /usr/sbin is on PATH but the binary is absent:
bash: ifconfig: command not foundOn the test host (net-tools already present):
Debian GNU/Linux 13 (trixie)
/usr/sbin/ifconfig
ii net-tools 2.10-1.3 amd64 NET-3 networking toolkit
net-tools:
Installed: 2.10-1.3
Candidate: 2.10-1.3There is no separate ifconfig candidate in apt—only net-tools.
Prerequisites
- Debian 11, 12, or 13 with network access for
apt. - sudo for package install.
iproute2is usually already installed for basic networking.
Install ifconfig with net-tools
Install the NET-3 networking toolkit (linuxconfig.org, Linux Handbook):
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y net-toolsReading package lists...
net-tools is already the newest version (2.10-1.3).On a minimal system without the package, apt downloads and installs net-tools (~250 KB) and places ifconfig under /usr/sbin/.
Verify:
ifconfig --version
which ifconfig
dpkg -S "$(which ifconfig)"net-tools 2.10
/usr/sbin/ifconfig
net-tools: /usr/sbin/ifconfigShow all interfaces:
ifconfig -a | head -20enp0s3: flags=4163<UP,BROADCAST,RUNNING,MULTICAST> mtu 1500
inet 10.0.2.15 netmask 255.255.255.0 broadcast 10.0.2.255
...
lo: flags=73<UP,LOOPBACK,RUNNING> mtu 65536
inet 127.0.0.1 netmask 255.0.0.0Other binaries in net-tools
Installing net-tools also provides legacy tools many admins still expect:
/usr/sbin/ifconfig
/usr/sbin/route
/usr/sbin/netstat
/usr/sbin/arp(Exact file list: dpkg -L net-tools | grep '^/usr/sbin/'.)
Use ip instead of ifconfig (recommended for new scripts)
iproute2 is the modern replacement. It is usually installed without net-tools:
ip -br addr show
ip addr show dev enp0s3 2>/dev/null | head -6lo UNKNOWN 127.0.0.1/8 ::1/128
enp0s3 UP 10.0.2.15/24 fd17:625c:f037:2:.../64 fe80::a00:27ff:fe15:1305/64
docker0 DOWN 172.17.0.1/16| Task | ifconfig | ip (iproute2) |
|---|---|---|
| List addresses | ifconfig -a |
ip -br addr or ip addr |
| Bring interface up | ifconfig eth0 up |
ip link set eth0 up |
| Assign IPv4 | ifconfig eth0 192.168.1.10/24 |
ip addr add 192.168.1.10/24 dev eth0 |
See the Linux ip command guide for routing (ip route) and link management.
PATH and /usr/sbin
ifconfig lives in /usr/sbin, which Debian may omit from a normal user’s PATH. If command -v ifconfig is empty but the package is installed:
ls -l /usr/sbin/ifconfig
sudo ifconfig -a | head -5Add /usr/sbin for your user if needed:
echo 'export PATH="/usr/sbin:$PATH"' >> ~/.profileRead the manual
MANPAGER=cat man ifconfig 2>/dev/null | head -6IFCONFIG(8) Linux System Administrator's Manual IFCONFIG(8)
NAME
ifconfig - configure a network interface
SYNOPSISUpdate net-tools
sudo apt update
sudo apt install --only-upgrade net-tools
ifconfig --versionCheck installed version with list installed packages on Debian:
dpkg -l net-tools | grep ^iiUninstall ifconfig (remove net-tools)
Removing net-tools removes ifconfig and related binaries together:
sudo apt remove net-toolsDry-run on the test host:
REMOVING:
net-tools
Remv net-tools [2.10-1.3]Use ip afterward for interface listing. Old scripts that call ifconfig will break until you reinstall net-tools or rewrite them.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
ifconfig: command not found |
net-tools not installed | sudo apt install net-tools |
Unable to locate package ifconfig |
No such package name | Install net-tools, not ifconfig |
| Installed but not in PATH | /usr/sbin excluded |
sudo ifconfig or fix PATH |
ifconfig vs ip output differs |
Different tool semantics | Prefer ip for new config; see ip command |
| Works as root, not as user | sbin PATH / permissions | sudo ifconfig or add /usr/sbin to PATH |
| Still missing after install | Wrong architecture / broken dpkg | dpkg -l net-tools; sudo apt install -f |
References
- packages.debian.org — search ifconfig (contents)
- Linux Handbook — ifconfig on Debian
- linuxconfig.org — install missing ifconfig
- Stack Overflow — ifconfig command not found
- On-site: install netstat on Debian, Linux ip command, ip route command, ping command, install sudo on Debian, apt command, list installed packages
Summary
Install ifconfig on Debian with sudo apt install net-tools—there is no separate ifconfig package. Fix command not found on minimal images by installing net-tools or switch scripts to ip addr from iproute2. Verify with ifconfig --version and dpkg -S /usr/sbin/ifconfig, and remove net-tools when you no longer need legacy NET-3 tools.
