Tip Top Tips: My IP Address

This month’s tip comes from SemperOSS.

Okay, I have been here before with ways to get the current IP address from the command line — but this time, let me show how it can be done from the applications menu on your desktop. It comprises two parts: the actual script, and a .desktop-file that shows up in the menu.

The script depends on the program dig, which is part of the standard installation of PCLinuxOS, and the program zenity, which can be installed with Synaptic.

The script (called “myip-gui,” and stored in “/usr/local/bin”):

#! /bin/bash
# Get the IPv4 address
IP="$( /usr/bin/dig +short myip.opendns.com @resolver1.opendns.com )"
# Set up the initial IPv4-part of the display
Text="<span size=\"xx-large\">$IP"
# Get the IPv6 part if it is enabled
if /sbin/ip -6 a | grep -qP 'inet6 .* scope global'; then
# Get the IPv6 part
IP="$( /usr/bin/dig -6 +short AAAA myip.opendns.com @resolver1.opendns.com )"
# Append it to the text
Text+=$'\n'"$IP"
fi
# Close the <span> tag
Text+="</span>"
# Show it on the screen
/usr/bin/zenity --info --text="$Text" --title="My IP" --ok-label="Close" &

And the .desktop file is stored in ".local/share/applications/myip-gui.desktop" in your home directory:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=myip
Exec=/usr/local/bin/myip-gui
Terminal=false
Categories=System;Monitor;ConsoleOnly;X-MandrivaLinux-System-Monitoring;
Keywords=system;process;task

Remember that you need to be root to store files in "/usr/local/bin," and that the script must be made executable with the command (again as root) "chmod +x /usr/local/bin/myip-gui". You should now find a menu item called "myip" in the applications menu, in the "More Applications" section.

In a follow-up reply, Cúig noted that a user could easily monitor their IP address from either of two commands on the command line: curl ifconfig.co/ip and/or curl ip.me.

He also pointed out that you could put it all into a desktop file if that is what is needed, without even creating a script, like below:

[Desktop Entry]
Categories=X-MandrivaLinux-System-Archiving;
Comment=Display my WAN IP Address
Exec=MyIP=$(curl ifconfig.co/ip); zenity --info --width=150 --text=$MyIP --title="My WAN IP" --ok-label=Close &
GenericName=MyIP
Icon=internet-web-browser
Keywords=MyIP;
MimeType=
Name=MyIP
Path=
StartupNotify=true
Terminal=false
Type=Application

SemperOSS replied that yes, it is easier, indeed, but pointed out that many (most?) are not comfortable using the command line if avoidable … and it works too — but misses an opportunity to show a bit of bash scripting if people are interested.

He also pointed out that it could even be simplified by changing the Exec line to:

Exec=zenity --info --text="$(curl ifconfig.co/ip)" --title="My WAN IP" --ok-label=Close & which (with the extra quotes), also handles the case of the website spitting something unexpected out containing spaces.