# Changing hostOS ethernet settings

**URL:** <https://forums.balena.io/t/changing-hostos-ethernet-settings/56841>\
**Category:** balenaOS\
**Tags:** network\
**Created:** [January 15, 2020, 9:34am UTC](https://forums.balena.io/t/changing-hostos-ethernet-settings/56841 "2020-01-15T09:34:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lpierrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@lpierrat](https://forums.balena.io/u/lpierrat)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 9:34am UTC](https://forums.balena.io/t/changing-hostos-ethernet-settings/56841/1 "2020-01-15T09:34:06Z")

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Hi,

I have a BalenaOS device running and connected to BalenaCloud via a Wifi interface.  
I need also my device to be connected to another local network via another Ethernet interface. But I forgot to do the setup before flashing the OS (with this documentation: [https://www.balena.io/docs/reference/OS/network/2.x/#setting-a-static-ip](https://www.balena.io/docs/reference/OS/network/2.x/#setting-a-static-ip))

How can I add new Ethernet settings in a running device ? I’ve tried to create a new file in system-connection but the file system is in read-only so I cannot create it.

I read about is interacting with the NetworkManager via its DBUS API ([https://www.balena.io/docs/reference/OS/network/2.x/#changing-the-network-at-runtime](https://www.balena.io/docs/reference/OS/network/2.x/#changing-the-network-at-runtime)) but I’m not sure if this solution applies to me since I want to do it directly from the HostOS (not from a container), and with Ethernet (not Wifi). I haven’t tried because changing network configuration can be dangerous and I don’t want to “lose” my device.

Thanks for helping me

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**Author:** ![nghiant2710](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nghiant2710](https://forums.balena.io/u/nghiant2710)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 10:52am UTC](https://forums.balena.io/t/changing-hostos-ethernet-settings/56841/2 "2020-01-15T10:52:51Z")

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Hi,

All the connection files are stored inside `/mnt/boot/system-connections` in the hostOS, it’s RW so you can add a new connection file with your ethernet interface here. Please let us know how it goes.

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**Author:** ![lpierrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@lpierrat](https://forums.balena.io/u/lpierrat)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 12:58pm UTC](https://forums.balena.io/t/changing-hostos-ethernet-settings/56841/4 "2020-01-15T12:58:24Z")

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Oh ok! Indeed it works ! I was looking in `/resin-boot/system-connections`.

Also, I noticed `/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/`. Here it seems to be RW.

Why there are 3 folders and what are the differences ?

Thanks

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**Author:** ![jviotti](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/balena/user_avatar/forums.balena.io/jviotti/32/220_2.png) [@jviotti](https://forums.balena.io/u/jviotti)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 1:03pm UTC](https://forums.balena.io/t/changing-hostos-ethernet-settings/56841/5 "2020-01-15T13:03:50Z")

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Hi Lucas,

The `system-connections` folder is supposes to contain NetworkManager connection files ([https://www.balena.io/docs/reference/OS/network/2.x/#introduction](https://www.balena.io/docs/reference/OS/network/2.x/#introduction)). You can name these files as you like, and they correspond to different NetworkManager profiles that you might want to use.

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**Author:** ![lpierrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@lpierrat](https://forums.balena.io/u/lpierrat)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2020, 1:11pm UTC](https://forums.balena.io/t/changing-hostos-ethernet-settings/56841/7 "2020-01-15T13:11:16Z")

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Ok understood. Thanks a lot for the answer!