How To Delete Virtual Interfaces in Ubuntu 18.04

In this tutorial, we will discuss the process of deleting virtual interfaces in Ubuntu 18.04. Virtual interfaces are often used in networking to create multiple network interfaces from one physical interface. However, there may be instances where you need to delete these virtual interfaces. Let’s dive into the details.

Listing All Interfaces

Before we proceed with the deletion, it’s important to know how to list all the existing interfaces. You can do this by using the ip addr command:

ip addr

This command will display a list of all your network interfaces, both physical and virtual.

Deleting Virtual Interfaces

Using ip Command

The ip command is a powerful tool for managing network interfaces in Linux. Here’s how you can use it to delete a virtual interface:

sudo ip link delete <interface_name>

Replace <interface_name> with the name of the interface you want to delete. For example, if the interface is named s1, the command would be:

sudo ip link delete s1

Using ovs-vsctl Command

If the virtual interfaces are related to Open vSwitch, you can use the ovs-vsctl command to delete them. First, check if the virtual interfaces are related to Open vSwitch by running:

ovs-vsctl show

If they are, you can delete the virtual devices using ovs-vsctl commands. The man page for ovs-vsctl provides detailed instructions on deleting bridges and ports. You can access it here.

Using iw Command

For wireless virtual interfaces, you can use the iw command. First, list all interfaces, including virtual ones, with:

ifconfig -a

Then, identify the wireless virtual interface you want to delete and use the following command:

sudo iw dev <interface_name> del

Replace <interface_name> with the name of the wireless virtual interface you want to delete.

Removing All Virtual Interfaces

In some cases, you might want to remove all virtual interfaces. One way to do this is to remove the corresponding packages. For instance, to remove Open vSwitch completely, run:

sudo apt purge -y openvswitch-common openvswitch-switch
sudo reboot

This command will remove all the packages related to Open vSwitch and reboot your system.

Conclusion

Deleting virtual interfaces in Ubuntu 18.04 can be done using various commands such as ip, ovs-vsctl, and iw, depending on the type of interface. However, always exercise caution when deleting virtual interfaces as they may be essential for certain network configurations.

Remember to replace <interface_name> with the actual name of the interface you want to delete in all the commands. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to successfully delete virtual interfaces in Ubuntu 18.04.