Linux Point to Point Network Connection

Point to point connection is a network connection between 2 machines without a switch in between. Basically, both the ends of the cables are directly inserted into the 2 machines to be connected via p2p.

Advantages of p2p include avoiding routing overhead from the switch, simplicity, and to security.

Configuration is simply:

/sbin/ifconfig <dev> inet <local-host-ip> netmask 255.255.255.0 pointopoint <destination-ip>

For example:

Machine 1

/sbin/ifconfig eth0 inet 192.168.0.10 netmask 255.255.255.0 pointopoint 192.168.0.11


Machine 2

/sbin/ifconfig eth0 inet 192.168.0.11 netmask 255.255.255.0 pointopoint 192.168.0.10

ping 192.168.0.10 # This should work now if your network cable is connected properly

Debug


/sbin/ethtool eth0 # Should show correct speed and link detected should be "yes"


Reference

http://docstore.mik.ua/orelly/networking/tcpip/ch06_01.htm