Each host which you connect to an ethernet-based network running TCP/IP
protocols must have a so-called `net interface'. This network interface
must be configured before it will work. Normally one does this with the
help of the ifconfig command. This can also be checked and
configured automatically by cfengine.
Network configuration involves telling the interface hardware what the internet (IP) address of your system is, so that it knows which incoming `packets' of data to pay attention to. It involves telling the interface how to interpret the addresses it receives by setting the `netmask' for your network (see below). Finally you must tell it which dummy address is to be used for messages which are broadcast to all hosts on your network simultaneously See section netmask.
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