Resolve network interface naming issue

Leapp upgrade from RHEL 7.9 to 8.8 fails during the leapp preupgrade phase due to the use of kernel-style interface names (For example, eth0, eth1) when multiple network interfaces are present.

To proceed with the upgrade, rename the interfaces using persistent, custom names (For example, net0, net1) by defining udev rules before starting the upgrade.

Steps

  1. Identify the MAC addresses of the interfaces.
  2. Create a udev rules file (For example, /etc/udev/rules.d/10-persistent.rules) to assign new, predictable names like net0, net1.
  3. After creating the udev rule, rename the interfaces under /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/:

    ifcfg-eth0 → ifcfg-net0

    ifcfg-eth1 → ifcfg-net1

  4. Update the NAME and DEVICE of individual interface to match the new interface name such as net0.
  5. Reboot the system to apply the new interface names.
  6. Verify that the new names are active.
  7. Proceed with the Leapp upgrade to RHEL 8.8.

Next steps

Once the OS upgrade is completed and before upgrading the product:
  1. Revert back the interface name back to it's original name under /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/:

    ifcfg-net0 → ifcfg-eth0

    ifcfg-net1 → ifcfg-eth1

  2. Update the entries NAME and DEVICE of individual interface to match the original interface name such as eth0 and eth1.
  3. Delete /etc/udev/rules.d/10-persistent.rules.
  4. Reboot the system to update the interface name.