> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gcore.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configure a 10 Gbps network card

> Configure a 10 Gbps network card on a Gcore dedicated server by identifying and enabling the correct interface.

Each Dedicated Server has multiple network cards connected to separate network switches, but the installed OS activates only the 1 Gbps card by default. A 10 Gbps network card must already be installed on the server — Gcore can add one as part of a [server upgrade](/hosting/dedicated-servers/upgrade-your-dedicated-server).

> [!WARNING]
>
> These steps require direct server access and manual network configuration. Consult a system administrator if difficulties arise.

Select the tab that matches the server OS.

**Ubuntu/Debian**

Ubuntu and Debian use `netplan` for network configuration. On older systems without `netplan`, each step includes the equivalent command.

**1. Install the required tools**

Install `ethtool`, `net-tools`, and [nano](https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Nano), or another text editor of choice.

```sh theme={null}
apt-get install ethtool net-tools nano
```

**2. Check active interfaces**

Run `ip` to list active network interfaces.

```sh theme={null}
ip
```

The output resembles the following, where `eth0` is the active 1 Gbps interface.

![ip command output](https://mintcdn.com/gcore/6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk/images/docs/hosting/dedicated-servers/manage/networking/configure-a-10-gbps-network-card/12987773655057.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk\&q=85\&s=e2adfc89f83e0a96fb0e5c150ffc626a)

On older Linux versions where `ip` is not available, use `ifconfig` instead.

**3. Check interface settings**

Inspect the settings of the active interface to confirm its speed.

```sh theme={null}
ethtool eth0
```

The output resembles the following:

![ethtool eth0 output](https://mintcdn.com/gcore/6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk/images/docs/hosting/dedicated-servers/manage/networking/configure-a-10-gbps-network-card/12987901207825.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk\&q=85\&s=79e31d97c49ccb3ac03dd6e3c7c60666)

In **Supported link modes**, `1000baseT/Full` means the interface supports a maximum speed of 1 Gbps. Find an interface that lists `10000baseT/Full`, which indicates 10 Gbps support.

**4. List all interfaces**

List all interfaces, including inactive ones, to find the 10 Gbps candidate.

```sh theme={null}
ip link show
```

The output lists each interface and its state (up or down).

![ip link show output](https://mintcdn.com/gcore/6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk/images/docs/hosting/dedicated-servers/manage/networking/configure-a-10-gbps-network-card/12988067861649.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk\&q=85\&s=986035fea9f9517447cc5dcf16d0b6e9)

On older Linux versions where `ip link show` is not available, use `ifconfig` instead.

**5. Activate inactive interfaces**

Bring up each interface that is listed as down. Replace `eth1` and `eth2` with the interface names shown in the previous step.

```sh theme={null}
ip link set eth1 up
ip link set eth2 up
```

On older Linux versions, use `ifconfig eth1 up` instead of `ip link set`. To verify that an interface is active, run `ip` and check for `state UP` in the output (`state DOWN` means the interface is still inactive; use `ifconfig` on older systems).

**6. Find the 10 Gbps interface**

Run `ethtool` on each inactive interface until finding the one that supports 10 Gbps.

```sh theme={null}
ethtool eth1
ethtool eth2
```

The output resembles the following:

![ethtool output showing 10 Gbps interface](https://mintcdn.com/gcore/6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk/images/docs/hosting/dedicated-servers/manage/networking/configure-a-10-gbps-network-card/12988155718033.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk\&q=85\&s=fcf1d97888ee149b3bd8a2ab8b98cf63)

Confirm that **Link detected** is `yes` and **Speed** is `10000Mb/s` (10 Gbps). Note the interface name — the next step requires it.

**7. Update the network configuration**

Open the network configuration file in a text editor.

```sh theme={null}
nano /etc/netplan/*.yaml
```

On older Linux versions, use `nano /etc/network/interfaces` instead.

In the configuration file, find every line where the current 1 Gbps interface name (`eth0`) appears and replace it with the 10 Gbps interface name identified in the previous step. Leave the `lo` interface unchanged.

If the 10 Gbps interface is `eth2`, a section that reads:

```yaml theme={null}
ethernets:
  eth0:
    dhcp4: true
```

becomes:

```yaml theme={null}
ethernets:
  eth2:
    dhcp4: true
```

**8. Apply the configuration**

Save the file and exit the text editor, then apply the new configuration.

```sh theme={null}
netplan apply
```

On older Linux versions that do not use `netplan`, reboot the server instead.

If the server becomes unreachable after applying, reboot it to recover. If it still does not respond, use [IPMI](/hosting/dedicated-servers/manage/log-in-to-ipmi) to access it.

**9. Verify the active interface**

Run `ethtool` on the 10 Gbps interface name to confirm **Speed** shows `10000Mb/s`. The server now uses the 10 Gbps network interface.

If the interface is not active, reboot the server and check again. If the server does not respond, use [IPMI](/hosting/dedicated-servers/manage/log-in-to-ipmi) to access it, or [reinstall](/hosting/dedicated-servers/manage/operating-system/install-a-linux-os-from-a-template) the OS.

**CentOS**

> [!NOTE]
>
> CentOS 7 reached end of life on June 30, 2024. For new servers, consider using AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux as actively maintained alternatives. The steps below apply to CentOS 7.

CentOS uses `/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/` for network configuration. On older systems without the `ip` utility, each step includes the equivalent command.

**1. Install the required tools**

Install `ethtool`, `net-tools`, and `nano`, or another text editor of choice.

```sh theme={null}
yum install ethtool net-tools nano
```

**2. Check active interfaces**

Run `ip` to list active network interfaces.

```sh theme={null}
ip
```

The output resembles the following, where `eno1` is the active 1 Gbps interface.

![ip command output on CentOS](https://mintcdn.com/gcore/6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk/images/docs/hosting/dedicated-servers/manage/networking/configure-a-10-gbps-network-card/12988893619089.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk\&q=85\&s=df445b5155fa619983d0326b73bc96e9)

On older Linux versions where `ip` is not available, use `ifconfig` instead.

**3. Check interface settings**

Inspect the settings of the active interface to confirm its speed.

```sh theme={null}
ethtool eno1
```

The output resembles the following:

![ethtool eno1 output](https://mintcdn.com/gcore/6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk/images/docs/hosting/dedicated-servers/manage/networking/configure-a-10-gbps-network-card/12988723926417.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk\&q=85\&s=3a48795ca2683671ec63a69093a8e7c9)

In **Supported link modes**, `1000baseT/Full` means the interface supports a maximum speed of 1 Gbps. Find an interface that lists `10000baseT/Full`, which indicates 10 Gbps support.

**4. List all interfaces**

List all interfaces, including inactive ones, to find the 10 Gbps candidate.

```sh theme={null}
ip link show
```

The output lists each interface and its state (up or down).

![ip link show output on CentOS](https://mintcdn.com/gcore/6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk/images/docs/hosting/dedicated-servers/manage/networking/configure-a-10-gbps-network-card/12989145294481.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk\&q=85\&s=4b079701733af9c489fb212660e6ed81)

On older Linux versions where `ip link show` is not available, use `ifconfig` instead.

**5. Activate inactive interfaces**

Bring up the interface that is listed as down. Replace `eno2` with the interface name shown in the previous step.

```sh theme={null}
ip link set eno2 up
```

On older Linux versions, use `ifconfig eno2 up` instead of `ip link set`. To verify that the interface is active, run `ip` and check for `state UP` in the output (`state DOWN` means the interface is still inactive; use `ifconfig` on older systems).

**6. Find the 10 Gbps interface**

Run `ethtool` on each inactive interface until finding the one that supports 10 Gbps.

```sh theme={null}
ethtool eno2
```

The output resembles the following:

![ethtool output showing 10 Gbps interface on CentOS](https://mintcdn.com/gcore/6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk/images/docs/hosting/dedicated-servers/manage/networking/configure-a-10-gbps-network-card/12989201201041.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=6c7rSEr5Xo1-o6lk\&q=85\&s=4a460cd78682b69087062268e57a395b)

Confirm that **Link detected** is `yes` and **Speed** is `10000Mb/s` (10 Gbps). Note the interface name — the next step requires it.

**7. Update the network configuration**

Open the configuration file for the current 1 Gbps interface and disable it by setting `ONBOOT=no`.

```sh theme={null}
nano /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eno1
```

Then open the configuration file for the 10 Gbps interface. Replace `eno1` in the filename with the 10 Gbps interface name identified in the previous step.

```sh theme={null}
nano /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eno2
```

In `ifcfg-eno2`, copy the IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and DNS settings from `ifcfg-eno1`, then update `DEVICE` and `NAME` to the 10 Gbps interface name and set `ONBOOT=yes`.

**8. Save and reboot**

Save the file and exit the text editor. Reboot the server for the changes to take effect.

**9. Verify the active interface**

After the reboot, run `ethtool` on the 10 Gbps interface name to confirm **Speed** shows `10000Mb/s`. The server now uses the 10 Gbps network interface.

If the server does not respond after reboot, use [IPMI](/hosting/dedicated-servers/manage/log-in-to-ipmi) to access it, or [reinstall](/hosting/dedicated-servers/manage/operating-system/install-a-linux-os-from-a-template) the OS.