FreeBSD: HowTo Start / Stop / Restart Network and Routing Service

FreeBSD is a Unix-like free operating system. You can install to choose third party software on FreeBSD from the Ports Collection. Many services such as POP3 server daemons, IMAP, etc. could be started using the inetd.

However, networking can be stop or started using special script located in /etc/rc.d/ directory. This directory includes script to stop or start network, and other services such as SSH server.
FreeBSD 5.x/6.x and above version - start or stop network

FreeBSD 5.x/6.x and above version comes with netif script to start, restart, stop network service. You need to login as a root user. Then you can use following commands:

To start FreeBSD network service:
# /etc/rc.d/netif start

To stop FreeBSD network service:
# /etc/rc.d/netif stop

To restart FreeBSD network service:
# /etc/rc.d/netif restart

Manual method using ifconfig

To stop network card (NIC) on-fly:
# ifconfig network-interface down

To start network card (NIC) on fly:
# ifconfig network-interface up

To list down network interface:
# ifconfig -d

To list up network interface:
# ifconfig -u

FreeBSD Update / restart routing tables / service

It is also necessary to update routing table after restating networking service, enter:
# /etc/rc.d/routing restart

How do I restart network service over ssh session?

You need to type the commands as follows in order to avoid any problems:
# /etc/rc.d/netif restart && /etc/rc.d/routing restart

FreeBSD 4.x and prior version only - start, restart, stop network service

1) To start network service under FreeBSD you need to copy special
script as follows:

# cp /usr/share/examples/etc/netstart /etc/network

2) Execute script:

. /etc/network

OR

sh /etc/network

Please note that script will do all necessary work for you i.e. it will start network, routing, firewall etc.

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