Dell Force10 MXL Blade - Overview of Layer Modes; Configure Layer 2 (Data Link) Mode

224 | Interfaces
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The following section includes information about optional configurations for physical interfaces:
• Overview of Layer Modes
• Configure Layer 2 (Data Link) Mode
• Management Interfaces
• Auto-Negotiation on Ethernet Interfaces
• Adjust the Keepalive Timer
• Clear Interface Counters
Overview of Layer Modes
On all systems running FTOS, you can place physical interfaces, port channels, and VLANs in Layer 2
mode or Layer 3 mode. By default, VLANs are in Layer 2 mode.
Table 13-1 lists the different interface types and modes.
Configure Layer 2 (Data Link) Mode
To enable Layer 2 data transmissions through an individual interface, use the switchport command in
INTERFACE mode. You cannot configure switching or Layer 2 protocols, such as the spanning tree
protocol (STP), on an interface unless the interface has been set to Layer 2 mode.
Figure 13-4 shows the basic configuration found in a Layer 2 interface.
Figure 13-4. show config Command Example of a Layer 2 Interface
Table 13-1. Interface Types
Type of Interface
Possible
Modes Requires Creation Default State
100/1000/10000 Ethernet, 40 Gigabit
Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet
Layer 2
Layer 3
No Shutdown (disabled)
Management n/a No Shutdown (disabled)
Loopback Layer 3 Yes No shutdown (enabled)
Null interface n/a No Enabled
Port Channel Layer 2
Layer 3
Yes Shutdown (disabled)
VLAN Layer 2
Layer 3
Yes, except for the
default VLAN
No shutdown (active for Layer 2)
Shutdown (disabled for Layer 3)
FTOS(conf-if)#show config
!
interface Port-channel 1
no ip address
switchport
no shutdown
FTOS(conf-if)#