Fix "ifconfig: command not found" on Linux

Why it happens

1. Old tool. ifconfig is deprecated, and new distributions do not install it.
2. Missing package. ifconfig is part of the net-tools package.
3. No permission. Some users cannot run it without sudo.
4. PATH. The folder with ifconfig (/sbin) is not in your PATH.

Install net-tools

On Debian and Ubuntu:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install net-tools

On CentOS, Red Hat and Fedora:

sudo yum install net-tools

On Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S net-tools

Use the full path

sudo /sbin/ifconfig

Add /sbin to PATH

Show the current value:

echo $PATH

Add the folder for this session:

export PATH=$PATH:/sbin

To make it permanent, add that line to ~/.bashrc.

Run with sudo

sudo ifconfig

Use the ip command instead

The ip command is the modern replacement and is installed by default:

ip addr show

ip link show

Tips

• After you install net-tools, run ifconfig to check that it works.
• If you have several copies, use the full path to pick one.
• It is better to learn the ip command, because ifconfig may disappear.

Quick recap

• Install net-tools, or use ip addr show.
• Add /sbin to the PATH if the command still is not found.