Learn how to - Create and Use Network Bridge on Arch Linux|Manjaro

Learn how to – Create and Use Network Bridge on Arch Linux|Manjaro.

Bridge is what unites two or more network interfaces together. Network Bridging is mostly used in Virtualization to allow Virtual Machines access external Network. Different tools are available for creating and configuring Network Bridge in Linux World, but they vary depending on Linux distribution you use. Most common tools that can be used on Arch Linux and related distributions like Manjaro include:

brctl tool from bridge-utils package.
netctl tool
ip tool from iproute2 package.
Using NetworkManager.

We’ll use netctl tool or achieve results by editing configuration file directly. In example used here, I will create a bridge called br10, then add interfaces eno1 and tap0 to the bridge. I will then demonstrate working status of the bridge by adding it to a Virtual Machine launched with KVM.

Step 1: Install Bridge tools

So let’s get started. First things first, let’s make sure we have bridge-utils installed, we’ll use to see details of bridge created.

sudo pacman -S bridge-utils netctl

Step 2: Create Bridge:

Create bridge file inside /etc/netctl/ directory. I will name my bridge kvm-bridge, any name will do just fine.

sudo vim /etc/netctl/kvm-bridge

Add the following contents changing br10 with interface bridge you’re creating,eno1 and tap0 with interfaces you’re adding to the bridge, ip network information with your network details:

Description="Bridge Interface br10 : eno1,tap0"
Interface=br10
Connection=bridge
BindsToInterfaces=(eno1 tap0)
IP=static
Address='192.168.1.105/24'
Gateway='192.168.1.1'
DNS='192.168.1.1'
MACAddressOf=eno1

## Ignore (R)STP and immediately activate the bridge
SkipForwardingDelay=yes

MACAddressOf=eno1 will make sure that the bridge interface always uses MAC address of interface eno1. If you want the bridge interface to be given unique MAC address you may remove this line. I added it because I’ve MAC address filtering in my network, making bridge br10 to have mac address of physical eno1 interface will allow me to have internet access using bridge br10.

You can bridge any combination of network devices by adding them to “BindsToInterfaces” option line.

If you would like to enable a static IP profile on wired interface no matter if the cable is connected or not, add the line below to your profile:

SkipNoCarrier=yes

If you’re configuring ip address information to be obtained using DHCP protocol, then your configuration will look like below:

Description="Bridge Interface br10 : eno1,tap0"
Interface=br10
Connection=bridge
BindsToInterfaces=(eno1 tap0)
IP=dhcp
# If you want also for DHCPv6,uncomment below line
#IP6=dhcp

Below configuration will use dhcp and assign bridge MAC address of eno1 network card.

Description="Bridge Interface br10 : eno1,tap0"
Interface=br10
Connection=bridge
BindsToInterfaces=(eno1 tap0)
IP=no
ExecUpPost="ip link set dev br0 address $(cat /sys/class/net/eno1/address); IP=dhcp; ip_set"
ExecDownPre="IP=dhcp"

Step 3: Remove the ip of interface added to the bridge; eno1

My primary physical Ethernet interface is eno1. Since I’ve added this
interface to bridge, I have to remove its ip address. You can do this
either by editing network profile and adding the line:

set IP=no

Alternatively, you can reset the eno1 interface using NetworkManager. To do this

Launch Network Manager application by going to All settings > Network > Interface Name
Click on settings for your interface, mine is eno1
Then go to Reset
click on Forget

If you check on interfaces available on Network Manager interface, eno1 should be gone, See screenshot below:

Create and Use Network Bridge on Arch Linux|Manjaro 1

Step 4: Start Bridge on Arch | Manjaro

Run the command below to start the bridge that you just created.

sudo netctl start kvm-bridge

Step 5: Set profile to start when computer boots

Enable for automatic start when the system is rebooted.

sudo netctl enable kvm-bridge

If you make changes to the profile, reenable it since Changes to the profile file will not propagate to the service file automatically:

sudo netctl reenable kvm-bridge

You can open NetworkManager to see if the bridge interface is working.

Brctl command can be used to see bridges configured in the system

$ sudo brctl show
bridge name bridge id STP enabled interfaces
br10 8000.a01d48fad8df no eno1
virbr0 8000.5254007baa03 yes virbr0-nic

To see bridged interfaces:

$ sudo bridge link
2: eno1 state UP : <BROADCAST,MULTICAST,PROMISC,UP,LOWER_UP> mtu 1500 master br10 state forwarding priority 32 cost 19 
5: virbr0-nic state DOWN : <BROADCAST,MULTICAST> mtu 1500 master virbr0 state disabled priority 32 cost 100

Up to this point, you’re ready to use the bridge on your KVM virtual
machines. Open VM you want to use the bridge on, then go to its
settings, NIC and specify br10. see screenshot below:

Create and Use Network Bridge on Arch Linux|Manjaro 2

There you have it. Network bridge has been configured on Arch Linux / Manjaro system.

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Learn how to – Create and Use Network Bridge on Arch Linux|Manjaro