Virtual network interfaces.... info please!

resetreset · 04-01-2010, 02:47 AM

Hi,
In my Network Configuration (system->administration->network), I see 2 devices BESIDES my eth0 (the network card that I have): virbr0 and pan0. What are these?
More interestingly, ifconfig shows the "virbr0" but not "pan0" - that's only in the GUI.

Can anyone give me the lowdown on this?

Thanks.

catkin · 04-01-2010, 03:10 AM

PAN = "Personal Area Network", a Bluetooth term.

resetreset · 04-02-2010, 02:12 AM

Thanks. SO what's "virbr0" then? And why do I have anything to do with Bluetooth in Linux, when I don't have any Bluetooth devices on my system?

catkin · 04-02-2010, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by resetreset

Thanks. SO what's "virbr0" then? And why do I have anything to do with Bluetooth in Linux, when I don't have any Bluetooth devices on my system?

IDK what virbr0 is but would guess it's a virtual bridge.

Many devices exist on the system in case they are needed. Regards PAN, you could plug in a Bluetoooth device any time. It's neater to create them when needed (and that's the way things are going) but simpler to create them anyway. For another example, see all the /dev/tty* files; "they also serve who stand and wait"!.