Reference Guide

Port Pipes
A port pipe is a Dell Networking-specific term for the hardware packet-processing elements that handle network traffic to and
from a set of front-end I/O ports. The physical, front-end I/O ports are referred to as a port set.
In the command-line interface, a Z9500 port pipe is entered as portset port-pipe-number.
A line card is a Dell Networking-specific term that describes the subsystem for a logical grouping of one or more port pipes. The
Z9500 has three line-card subsystems (0-2) with fixed, front-end ports. Each Z9500 line card consists of several port pipes.
Line card 0 consists of three port pipes: 0 to 2; line cards 1 and 2 consist of four port pipes: 0 to 3.
The ports and port pipes on each Z9500 line card are as follows:
● On line card 0, ports 0 to 47 belong to port pipe 0; ports 48 to 95 belong to port pipe 1; ports 96 to 143 belong to port pipe
2.
● On line card 1, ports 0 to 47 belong to port pipe 0; ports 48 to 95 belong to port pipe 1; ports 96 to 143 belong to port pipe 2;
ports 144 to 191 belong to port pipe 3.
● On line card 2, ports 0 to 47 belong to port pipe 0; ports 48 to 95 belong to port pipe 1; ports 96 to 143 belong to port pipe
2; ports 144 to 191 belong to port pipe 3.
Refer to Port Numbering Conventionfor the exact port location on Z9500 line cards.
Network Processing Units (NPUs)
The Z9500 uses network processing units (NPUs) to process traffic from front-end I/O ports and interconnect packet-
processing elements in the chassis to form one fully connected logical switch. The interconnect links run across 40-Gigabit
Ethernet internal ports. A 40-Gigabit Ethernet internal port is also referred to as a HiGig port.
On the Z9500, each NPU that constitutes a port pipe processes traffic from a set of front-end I/O ports. In the command-line
interface, a Z9500 NPU is entered as unit unit-number.
Configuration Task List for Physical Interfaces
By default, all interfaces are operationally disabled and traffic does not pass through them.
The following section includes information about optional configurations for physical interfaces:
● Overview of Layer Modes
● Configuring Layer 2 (Data Link) Mode
● Configuring Layer 2 (Interface) Mode
● Management Interfaces
● Auto-Negotiation on Ethernet Interfaces
● Clearing Interface Counters
Overview of Layer Modes
On the Dell Networking OS, 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.
Type of Interface
Possible Modes Requires Creation Default State
10–Gigabit Ethernet and 40–
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
Yes Shutdown (disabled)
334 Interfaces