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From: Eric F Crist <ecrist@tech-con-inc.com>
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Subject: Re: How to restart my network without reboot?
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lahaye@users.sourceforge.net wrote:

> 
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I had to change the netmask of my ethernet card. So I modified
> /etc/rc.conf. But for that to take effect, I should reboot. Now, how can I
> avoid a reboot for such a small change?
> 
> I had a look at the ifconfig command, to set the interface manually, but I
> was completely lost by the amount of settings and options there.
> 
> I hoped that an easy command as: "/etc/rc.network restart" would do the
> trick, but that didn't work.
> 
> Can someone help me out here?
> 
> Thanks,
> Rob.

Rob,

you can also use the little-recognized /etc/netstart command.

This comes in useful for exactly those changes.  However, the right way to do 
it is with

grog# ifconfig <interface> inet xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx netmask xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

HTH

Eric