man: recommend that .network or friends should have a numeric prefix

Closes #23105.

1 files changed, 21 insertions, 14 deletions

diff --git a/man/systemd.link.xml b/man/systemd.link.xml
index 5629057bf2..de23b941ad 100644
--- a/man/systemd.link.xml
+++ b/man/systemd.link.xml
@@ -32,15 +32,19 @@
     <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd.syntax</refentrytitle><manvolnum>7</manvolnum></citerefentry> for a
     general description of the syntax.</para>
 
-    <para>The link files are read from the files located in the system network directory
-    <filename>/usr/lib/systemd/network</filename>, the volatile runtime network directory
+    <para>The <filename>.link</filename> files are read from the files located in the system network
+    directory <filename>/usr/lib/systemd/network</filename> and
+    <filename>/usr/local/lib/systemd/network</filename>, the volatile runtime network directory
     <filename>/run/systemd/network</filename>, and the local administration network directory
-    <filename>/etc/systemd/network</filename>. Link files must have the extension
-    <filename>.link</filename>; other extensions are ignored. All link files are collectively sorted
-    and processed in lexical order, regardless of the directories in which they live. However, files
-    with identical filenames replace each other. Files in <filename>/etc/</filename> have the highest
-    priority, files in <filename>/run/</filename> take precedence over files with the same name in
-    <filename>/usr/lib/</filename>. This can be used to override a system-supplied link file with a
+    <filename>/etc/systemd/network</filename>. All configuration files are collectively sorted and
+    processed in alphanumeric order, regardless of the directories in which they live. However, files
+    with identical filenames replace each other. It is recommended that each filename is prefixed with
+    a number (e.g. <filename>10-eth0.link</filename>). Otherwise, the default
+    <filename>.link</filename> files or those generated by
+    <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd-network-generator.service</refentrytitle><manvolnum>8</manvolnum></citerefentry>
+    may take precedence over user configured files. Files in <filename>/etc/</filename> have the
+    highest priority, files in <filename>/run/</filename> take precedence over files with the same name
+    in <filename>/usr/lib/</filename>. This can be used to override a system-supplied link file with a
     local file if needed. As a special case, an empty file (file size 0) or symlink with the same name
     pointing to <filename>/dev/null</filename> disables the configuration file entirely (it is
     "masked").</para>
@@ -71,13 +75,13 @@
   <refsect1>
     <title>[Match] Section Options</title>
 
-    <para>A link file is said to match a device if all matches specified by the
-    [Match] section are satisfied. When a link file does not contain valid settings
-    in [Match] section, then the file will match all devices and
-    <command>systemd-udevd</command> warns about that. Hint: to avoid the warning and to make it clear
-    that all interfaces shall be matched, add the following:
+    <para>A link file is said to match an interface if all matches specified by the [Match] section are
+    satisfied. When a link file does not contain valid settings in [Match] section, then the file will
+    match all interfaces and <command>systemd-udevd</command> warns about that. Hint: to avoid the
+    warning and to make it clear that all interfaces shall be matched, add the following:
     <programlisting>OriginalName=*</programlisting>
-    The following keys are accepted:</para>
+    The first (in alphanumeric order) of the link files that matches a given interface is applied, all
+    later files are ignored, even if they match as well. The following keys are accepted:</para>
 
     <variablelist class='network-directives'>
       <!-- This list is reused in systemd.network(3), hence maintain a specific order:
@@ -1211,6 +1215,9 @@ MACAddress=cb:a9:87:65:43:21</programlisting>
       </citerefentry>,
       <citerefentry>
         <refentrytitle>systemd.network</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum>
+      </citerefentry>,
+      <citerefentry>
+        <refentrytitle>systemd-network-generator.service</refentrytitle><manvolnum>8</manvolnum>
       </citerefentry>
     </para>
   </refsect1>