Users Guide

Configuring Layer 2 (Data Link) Mode
Do not configure switching or Layer 2 protocols such as spanning tree protocol (STP) on an interface
unless the interface has been set to Layer 2 mode.
To set Layer 2 data transmissions through an individual interface, use the following command.
• Enable Layer 2 data transmissions through an individual interface.
INTERFACE mode
switchport
Example of a Basic Layer 2 Interface Configuration
Dell(conf-if)#show config
!
interface Port-channel 1
no ip address
switchport
no shutdown
Dell(conf-if)#
Configuring Layer 2 (Interface) Mode
To configure an interface in Layer 2 mode, use the following commands.
• Enable the interface.
INTERFACE mode
no shutdown
• Place the interface in Layer 2 (switching) mode.
INTERFACE mode
switchport
For information about enabling and configuring the Spanning Tree Protocol, refer to Spanning Tree
Protocol (STP).
To view the interfaces in Layer 2 mode, use the show interfaces switchport command in EXEC
mode.
Configuring Layer 3 (Network) Mode
When you assign an IP address to a physical interface, you place it in Layer 3 mode.
To enable Layer 3 mode on an individual interface, use the following commands. In all interface types
except VLANs, the shutdown command prevents all traffic from passing through the interface. In VLANs,
the shutdown command prevents Layer 3 traffic from passing through the interface. Layer 2 traffic is
unaffected by the shutdown command. One of the interfaces in the system must be in Layer 3 mode
before you configure or enter a Layer 3 protocol mode (for example, OSPF).
• Enable Layer 3 on an individual interface
INTERFACE mode
ip address
• Enable the interface.
Interfaces
471