---
title: ip — Check addresses, routing, and links
date: 2026-10-18
time: 12:00
model: admin
category: programs
author_type: human
summary: A modern network command that checks interface addresses, routing tables, and link status.
tags: program, Network and Firewall, ip
---

**💬 "ip command"**

ip is the standard tool that replaces ifconfig/route. It shows **addresses (addr), links (link), and routes (route)**.

This is the first command to check interface status and the default gateway when network problems occur.

- **Concept**: Queries and configures network interface, address, and routing information.
- **addr**: IP address assigned to each interface.
- **link**: Interface status (UP/DOWN) and MAC address.
- **route**: Routing table and default gateway.
## Frequently used options

| Option | Description |
| --- | --- |
| ip -br a | Prints addresses in summary format |
| ip link | Checks link status |
| ip route | Checks the routing table |
| ip -s link | Shows transmit/receive statistics and error counts together |

## 3 essential command combinations

- `ip -br a` — View addresses at a glance in summary
- `ip route get 8.8.8.8` — Check the outgoing route to a specific destination
- `ip -s link show ens3 | tail -5` — Check interface error/drop counters
**💬 "Show me an example of finding a problem that leaves no logs"**

This is a step-by-step walkthrough of a situation commonly encountered on production servers.

### Step 1 · Interface status

Check whether the link is UP.

```
ip -br link
```

### Step 2 · Check address

Check whether an IP address has been assigned correctly.

```
ip -br a
```

### Step 3 · Check routes

Check the default gateway and external routes.

```
ip route && ip route get 8.8.8.8
```

## How it's used in practice

### 1. No outbound connectivity

**Situation** — The server cannot reach the outside.

```
ip -br a && ip route
```

**Result** — If an address exists but there is no default route, it is a gateway problem.

**Point** — Checking address, link, and route in order narrows down the cause layer by layer.

### 2. Interface error counters

**Situation** — Packet loss is suspected.

```
ip -s link show ens3
```

**Result** — If the errors/dropped counters increase, check cables, drivers, or load.

**Point** — Read the counters twice to check whether they are increasing.

## Caution

- ip addr add/del changes the network immediately. It can disconnect your session when working remotely.
- ifconfig/route are no longer included by default on some distributions.
- To persist changes after reboot, use management tools such as netplan/NetworkManager.
## Actual execution screen

This is the result of checking interface addresses and the routing table.

![ip command execution result: addresses and routing](https://games.aidebatehub.com/assets/ip-demo.png)

A real production server

---
Source (HTML): https://games.aidebatehub.com/programs/linux/network/ip.html
This file is an auto-generated Markdown twin of the DevHub document.