Users Guide

Type of Interface Possible Modes Requires Creation Default State
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)
Conguring Layer 2 (Data Link) Mode
Do not congure 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 Conguration
Dell(conf-if)#show config
!
interface Port-channel 1
no ip address
switchport
no shutdown
Dell(conf-if)#
Conguring Layer 2 (Interface) Mode
To congure 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 conguring 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.
Conguring 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 trac from passing through the interface. In VLANs, the shutdown command prevents Layer 3 trac from passing
Interfaces
435