What's the most effective way to restart net && children?

[Ian Lepore]

On Mon, 2012-12-03 at 08:05 -0800, Chris H wrote:
> Greetings,
>  I've always maintained at least a /24 since the early 80's.
> I'm now evaluating a new ISP, and am not ready to commit. Until then I'll be
> forced to use DHCP. My problem is that they are really mercenary about their
> lease(s) -- ~24hrs! So, given that I am treating the assigned IP(s) as pseudo-static,
> I would prefer not to bounce the box(es).
> I currently bounce them alternating rc & hosts, etc. I can easily switch configs
> "on the fly" by restarting network & related services, but am looking for a
> _graceful_ way to re-start the network. I see /etc/netstart, but it looks a little
> more /brutal/ than I was hoping for. Any and all suggestions _greatly_ appreciated.
> 
> Thank you for all your time, and consideration.
> 
> --Chris
> 

You can use "service netif restart" to restart / re-dhcp all the
interfaces.  Doing it that way will do ALL interfaces, including
loopback, which can break running programs that are using it.  You can
name one or more interfaces to be restarted instead of letting it do all
of them.

Do you have any reason to think the short leases time will somehow lead
to changing IPs?  My provider gives me 12 hour leases, and my IP hasn't
changed in like 7 years.

-- Ian