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

Closes #23105.

1 files changed, 10 insertions, 5 deletions

diff --git a/man/systemd.network.xml b/man/systemd.network.xml
index daab872fdd..4f1c9e4b27 100644
--- a/man/systemd.network.xml
+++ b/man/systemd.network.xml
@@ -42,8 +42,12 @@
     <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>. All configuration 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
+    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.network</filename>). Otherwise, the default
+    <filename>.network</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 under
     <filename>/usr/</filename>. This can be used to override a system-supplied configuration file with
     a local file if needed. As a special case, an empty file (file size 0) or symlink with the same
@@ -69,9 +73,9 @@
     <title>[Match] Section Options</title>
 
     <para>The network file contains a [Match] section, which determines if a given network file may
-    be applied to a given device; and a [Network] section specifying how the device should be
-    configured. The first (in lexical order) of the network files that matches a given device is
-    applied, all later files are ignored, even if they match as well.</para>
+    be applied to a given interface; and a [Network] section specifying how the interface should be
+    configured. The first (in alphanumeric order) of the network files that matches a given interface
+    is applied, all later files are ignored, even if they match as well.</para>
 
     <para>A network file is said to match a network interface if all matches specified by the [Match]
     section are satisfied. When a network file does not contain valid settings in [Match] section, then
@@ -4774,6 +4778,7 @@ Xfrm=xfrm0</programlisting>
       <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd-networkd.service</refentrytitle><manvolnum>8</manvolnum></citerefentry>,
       <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd.link</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum></citerefentry>,
       <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd.netdev</refentrytitle><manvolnum>5</manvolnum></citerefentry>,
+      <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd-network-generator.service</refentrytitle><manvolnum>8</manvolnum></citerefentry>,
       <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd-resolved.service</refentrytitle><manvolnum>8</manvolnum></citerefentry>
     </para>
   </refsect1>