lo(7)                                                          lo(7)


       NAME
             lo - software loopback network interface

       SYNOPSIS
             d = open ("/dev/loop", O_RDWR);

       DESCRIPTION
             The loopback device is a software datalink provider (interface
             driver) that returns all packets it receives to their source
             without involving any hardware devices.  It is a STREAMS
             device conforming to the datalink provider interface (DLPI).
             See if(7) for a general description of network interfaces.

             The loopback interface is used to access Internet services on
             the local machine.  Because it is available on all machines,
             including those with no hardware network interfaces, programs
             can use it for guaranteed access to local servers.  A typical
             application is the comsat(1M) server which accepts
             notification of mail delivery from a local client.  The
             loopback interface is also used for performance analysis and
             testing.

             By convention, the name of the loopback interface is lo0, and
             it is configured with Internet address 127.0.0.1.  This
             address may be changed with the
             SIOCSIFADDR ioctl.

       REFERENCES
             comsat(1M), if(7), inet(7)



















                           Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 1