FTOS Configuration Guide for the C-Series - Force10 Networks

To place a physical or port channel interface in Layer 2 mode, use the switchport command; to place an
interface in Layer 3 mode, assign an IP address to that interface. These interfaces also contain Layer 2 and
Layer 3 commands to configure and modify the interfaces. VLANs are different and, by default, these
interfaces are in Layer 2 mode.
Layer 2 Mode
Use the switchport command to place an interface in Layer 2 mode. You cannot configure switching or
Layer 2 protocols such as Spanning Tree Protocol on the interface unless the interface is in Layer 2 mode.
Figure 154 displays the basic configuration found in a Layer 2 interface.
Figure 154 show config Command Example of a Layer 2 Interface
Force10(conf-if)#show config
!
interface Port-channel 1
no ip address
switchport
no shutdown
Force10(conf-if)#
Layer 3 Mode
To enable Layer 3 traffic on the interface, add an IP address to the interfaces using the ip address
command and no shutdown command in the INTERFACE mode. In all interface types but 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, yet Layer 2 traffic is unaffected by
this 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).
Figure 155 shows how the show config command displays an example of a Layer 3 interface.
Figure 155 show config Command Example of a Layer 3 Interface
Force10(conf-if)#show config
!
interface GigabitEthernet 1/5
ip address 10.10.10.1 /24
no shutdown
Force10(conf-if)#
246 Interfaces