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?

score 40 · Answer 1 · edited Apr 26 '17 at 08:23

40

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

edited Apr 26 '17 at 08:23

answered Apr 27 '15 at 16:20

user3637203

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17

1

Works on Ubuntu 16.04, after getting the `Device or resource busy` error. I made sure to still call `sudo tunctl -d tap0` afterwards. – gbmhunter May 18 '17 at 20:11
hmm. i get a `RTNETLINK answers: Operation not supported`. – netskink Jul 25 '21 at 18:45

score -4 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 01 '13 at 14:46

-4

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

answered Aug 01 '13 at 14:46

Steve Metzler

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Isn't this is the same as using `ifconfig down`? It does not remove the interface. – Kara Jun 25 '14 at 21:23
It's not correct since `ip link` or `ifconfig tap#` still show the tun/tap device but in down status – Fab Sep 28 '16 at 02:50
The interface is not removed, is still there. It is just not shown with ifconfig. – Pedro Perez Sep 16 '21 at 10:55

score -4 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 01 '13 at 21:09

-4

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

answered Aug 01 '13 at 21:09

Steve Metzler

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1

Ubuntu, remove network TAP interface

3 Answers3