networks, see
<citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd.link</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum></citerefentry>.</para>
- <para>Network configurations applied before networkd is started
- are not removed, and static configuration applied by networkd is
- not removed when networkd exits. Dynamic configuration applied by
- networkd may also optionally be left in place on shutdown. This
- ensures restarting networkd does not cut the network connection,
- and, in particular, that it is safe to transition between the
- initrd and the real root, and back.</para>
+ <para><command>systemd-networkd</command> will create network devices based
+ on the configuration in
+ <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd.netdev</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum></citerefentry>
+ files, respecting the [Match] sections in those files.</para>
+
+ <para><command>systemd-networkd</command> will manage network addresses and
+ routes for any link for which it finds a <filename>.network</filename> file
+ with an appropriate [Match] section, see
+ <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd.network</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum></citerefentry>.
+ For those links, it will flush existing network addresses and routes when
+ bringing up the device. Any links not matched by one of the
+ <filename>.network</filename> files will be ignored. It is also possible to
+ explicitly tell <filename>systemd-networkd</filename> to ignore a link by
+ using <varname>Unmanaged=yes</varname> option, see
+ <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd.network</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum></citerefentry>.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>When <filename>systemd-networkd</filename> exits, it generally leaves
+ existing network devices and configuration intact. This makes it possible to
+ transition from the initrams and to restart the service without breaking
+ connectivity. This also means that when configuration is updated and
+ <filename>systemd-networkd</filename> is restarted, netdev interfaces for
+ which configuration was removed will not be dropped, and may need to be
+ cleaned up manually.</para>
</refsect1>
<refsect1><title>Configuration Files</title>