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Idea #15881: Give eth0 somewhat more human name

bug This idea was marked as implemented the 24 June 12. Available starting Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot.
Written by starko the 22 Nov 08 at 22:13. Related project: Network Manager. Status: Implemented
Rationale
Give NICs more human names than eth0, wlan0 etc. Something a regular human being can relate to. Something descriptive and explaining the function, like "Local Area Connection", "Wireless Network Connection", "Wired Network", "Wireless Connection", or similar would do.
This applies in particular to NetworkManager Applet at the top of the desktop. When you click on in it displays although very precise but very ugly "Auto eth0". After all, a printer applet next to it does not tell me that my usb0 is connected. Nor would it call it lpt0 or smb0. It calls it a printer and lets know that it is connected!
Of course in code, nitty-gritty configuration and other low level tech stuff, Linux hardcore aficionados can call all devices in Klingon hex numbers if pleases them.
Tags: HCI usability

37
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#1): Auto-generated solution of idea #15881
Written by starko the 22 Nov 08 at 22:13.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #15881 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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Comments
Emacs23 wrote on the 22 Nov 08 at 23:32
I wish canonical would close this project. Almost all latest suggestions were completely useless.

pepperpupper wrote on the 23 Nov 08 at 00:18
what's wrong with it?

Rabbid wrote on the 23 Nov 08 at 01:10
In NetworkManager eth0 appears under Wired Network, which is totally acceptable and not really confusing.

Saying Wired Network twice would be kinda dodgy.

If we were to say something else than eth0 it would have to be the adapters full name.

neon wrote on the 23 Nov 08 at 05:25
eth0 = Ethernet Connection #0. Or just Ethernet #0

braaivleis wrote on the 23 Nov 08 at 08:51
Use of code style words should be avoided, when developing user interfaces that normal users work with: eth0, wlan0 etc

neon's suggestion should be fine.

Those that prefer eth0 can then rename their connection afterwards.

starko wrote on the 23 Nov 08 at 14:14
You are missing the point:
Wikipedia defines Ethernet is a family of frame-based computer networking technologies for local area networks (LANs). The name comes from the physical concept of the ether. It defines a number of wiring and signaling standards for the Physical Layer of the OSI networking model, through means of network access at the Media Access Control (MAC)/Data Link Layer, and a common addressing format.

As you see it Ethernet is just a name for underlying technology a not for functionality. I have been a networks engineer in the beginning of the nineties and software developer for over 13 years until i crossed to the other side and started thinking in terms of Homo Sapience rather than a Homo Logicus. Normal Homo Sapience does not care and does not need to care about "Ethernet", all he wants to know whether his computer is connected to the outside world.

#0 is a designation for 1st hardware items. I will not even go into why it's #0 and #1. The fact is that from the human point of view it's at least strange. Adopt a normal person and ask they what they think.

There is a dividing line between people when it comes to computer use : those who care about what makes computer tick and those who do not. I realize that offering the first group ideas to that serve for improving of computer experiences of the later group is like pissing against the wind.

Successful operating systems are successful because they are developed with later group in mind. Ubuntu is an aspiring OS but far from successful yet. The question now is will it ever become a success? As long as the inmates are running the assylum it will not.

This about this: Why not call you monitor vga0? or maybe tft0.

All i know that none of my future OSs will never talk to me 'auto eth0' gibberish from my desktop.

mazilu59 wrote on the 24 Nov 08 at 21:35
what's the difference between Local Area Connection 1 & 2 (which is a windows based suggestion !!!) and eth0 & 1? the numbering starting from zero? the look? what can make something more special than originality? usb0 seems more suggestive than HP LaserJet 3392 (no ad here, just an example) which u dont know on what port is connected... dont think many people has 3-4 printers connected at the same time on usb so he could wonder which one is usb0 or 1 or whatever... i think the namings r just okay... the problem here is with some distros that after detecting an ethernet card and named it eth0, detect an wireless card and name it eth1... not ubuntu...

starko wrote on the 25 Nov 08 at 20:08
I do not insist on Local Area Connection. Not because it's windows based, although i realize that i crossed the line when i used something made up in the evil Microsoft dungeons. My apologies for offending anyone. Wired Network, Wired Connection or similar would do just fine. It would be a nice though touch if the numbering would be omitted altogether unless there are more than 1 connection of a kind. Calling a connection #0 is outright ridiculous. The fact that C arrays are zero based does not change the fact that people start counting things from number 1.
The difference between "Local Area Connection 1" and "eth0" is that the first one is the same as the difference between "The outside door to my house" and "wooh10". woh stands for "wooden obstacle on hinges" in case you did not get it. And 10 because it's the 3rd door i have to open when i go from my toilet (which is the center of the universe as far i am concerned) to my car every morning. Of course i count the toilet door as #0.

Originality? I will not even go there.

Off topic about printers :
Suppose i have 2 printers of different manufacturers or models, do you really think i would prefer choosing between usb1 or usb13 (i have 16 usb ports) or between two nicely named printers. btw long time ago (end of 20th century) in the DOS galaxy far away it was just like you like it. Most, no scratch that, all people i know that are not IT installers/troubleshooters or utter geeks, do not know or care to which port their peripherals are connected.

Coming back to NetworkManager Applet which is the source of all my misery: There is a little too much of "hierarchical 1,2, everything" thinking all programmers have. I can elaborate if you are interested

Vahan Harutyunyan (Brainstorm moderator) wrote on the 24 Jun 12 at 12:45
"Auto eth0" has been changed to "Wired connection 1" in Network Manager [Ubuntu 11.10].

Marking as implemented.


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