Ubuntu, remove network TAP interface

Question

I'm creating a network interface via a program in order to build a bridge between a simulated network (NS-3) and the real Linux host. So when the "bridged" node receive a packet in NS-3, the real Linux host receive the packet.

But when I run the program again, it can't "erase" or delete the network interface because "device or resource is busy".

I tried to shut the interface down (ifconfig <myInterface> down), restart the networking service (service networking restart), tried to delete the TAP interface with tunctl (tunctl -d myInterface), but even after hours, I'm still not able to delete or reuse this interface. "Device or resource is busy".

Can you please explain me how to delete or erase or reuse the interface?

Horal

Answer 1

You can use sudo ip link delete tap# to delete the interface itself.

Patino

Works on Ubuntu 16.04, after getting the Device or resource busy error. I made sure to still call sudo tunctl -d tap0 afterwards. – Synthiasyntonic

hmm. i get a RTNETLINK answers: Operation not supported. – Annmarie

Answer 2

just type ip link set tap# down and it dissapears.

Jibe

Isn't this is the same as using ifconfig down? It does not remove the interface. – Impetigo

It's not correct since ip link or ifconfig tap# still show the tun/tap device but in down status – Miscalculate

The interface is not removed, is still there. It is just not shown with ifconfig. – Munition

Answer 3

You can also edit out network devices by use of this file then restarting computer.... vi /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules

Jibe