Interfaces | 249
Table 13-4 lists the various Layer 2 overheads found in FTOS and the number of bytes. 
Link MTU and IP MTU considerations for port channels and VLANs are as follows.
Port Channels:
• All members must have the same link MTU value and the same IP MTU value. 
• The port channel link MTU and IP MTU must be less than or equal to the link MTU and IP MTU 
values configured on the channel members. 
For example, if the members have a link MTU of 2100 and an IP MTU 2000, the port channel’s MTU 
values cannot be higher than 2100 for link MTU or 2000 bytes for IP MTU.
VLANs:
• All members of a VLAN must have the same IP MTU value.
• Members can have different link MTU values. Tagged members must have a link MTU 4 bytes higher 
than untagged members to account for the packet tag.
• The VLAN link MTU and IP MTU must be less than or equal to the link MTU and IP MTU values 
configured on the VLAN members.
For example, the VLAN contains tagged members with a link MTU of 1522 and an IP MTU of 1500 and 
untagged members with a link MTU of 1518 and an IP MTU of 1500. The VLAN’s Link MTU cannot be 
higher than 1518 bytes and its IP MTU cannot be higher than 1500 bytes.
Port-Pipes 
A high-speed data bus connection used to switch traffic between front-end ports is known as the port pipe. 
A port pipe is a Dell Force10 term for the hardware path that packets follow through a system. The MXL 
Switch supports single port pipe only.
Table 13-4.  Difference between Link MTU and IP MTU
Layer 2 Overhead Difference between Link MTU and IP MTU
Ethernet (untagged) 18 bytes
VLAN Tag 22 bytes
Untagged Packet with VLAN-Stack Header 22 bytes
Tagged Packet with VLAN-Stack Header 26 bytes