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Catalyst 2950 and Catalyst 2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
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Chapter 10      Configuring Interface Characteristics
    Using the Interface Command
When you configure an EtherChannel, you create a port-channel logical interface and assign an interface 
to the EtherChannel. For Layer 2 interfaces, the logical interface is dynamically created. You manually 
assign an interface to the EtherChannel by using the channel-group interface configuration command. 
This command binds the physical and logical ports together. For more information, see Chapter 30, 
“Configuring EtherChannels.”
Connecting Interfaces
Devices within a single VLAN can communicate directly through any switch. Ports in different VLANs 
cannot exchange data without going through a routing device or routed interface.
With a standard Layer 2 switch, ports in different VLANs have to exchange information through a router. 
In the configuration shown in Figure 10-1, when Host A in VLAN 20 sends data to Host B in VLAN 30, 
it must go from Host A to the switch, to the router, back to the switch, and then to Host B.
Figure 10-1 Connecting VLANs with Layer 2 Switches
Using the Interface Command
To configure a physical interface (port), use the interface global configuration command to enter interface 
configuration mode and to specify the interface type, slot, and number. 
• Type—Fast Ethernet (fastethernet or fa) for 10/100 Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet (gigabitethernet or 
gi), or LRE (longreachethernet or lo).
• Slot—The slot number on the switch (always 0 on this switch). 
• Port number—The interface number on the switch. The port numbers always begin at 1, starting with 
the leftmost port when facing the front of the switch, for example, fastethernet0/1, fastethernet0/2. 
If there is more than one interface type (for example, 10/100 ports and Gigabit Ethernet ports), the 
port number restarts with the second interface type: gigabitethernet0/1, gigabitethernet0/2. 
Host A
Switch
Cisco router
VLAN 20
Host B
VLAN 30
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