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The following table shows a simple example of how to create a virtual bridge on Linux and how to add TAP interfaces to it using ip commands:
| Step | Command |
|---|---|
| Gather information about the existing network configuration. | List all existing interfaces, their status and their MAC addresses: List all configured IP addresses and netmasks: List the routing table entries: |
| Create a TAP interface (not needed if emulator automatic creation is used). |
|
| Activate TAP interface (can also be done via the initialize command in emulator configuration). | # ip link set my_tap0 up |
| Create a new bridge - if needed. | # ip link add name my_bridge type bridge |
| Activate the bridge - if needed | # ip link set my_bridge up |
| If needed, add a physical interface to the bridge. This interface will connect the bridge to the physical LAN. | # ip link set <physical-int> master my_bridge |
| Remove any configured IP address from the physical interface. | # ip addr delete <ip-address>/<netmask> dev <physical-int> |
| Add the IP address previously configured on the physical interface (or another IP address to be used by the host system) to the bridge interface. | # ip addr add <ip-address>/<netmask> dev my_bridge |
| Add any routes (including the default gateway) to be routed across the bridge interface - if needed. |
|
| Add the TAP interface to the bridge (can also be done via the initialize command in the emulator configuration). | # ip link set my_tap0 master my_bridge |
Please note: The commands above are not persistent. They would need to be scripted and added to the host system startup as required.
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