Null Interfaces; Port Channel Interfaces - Dell Force10 Z9000 Configuration Manual

Ftos configuration guide for z9000 system

Hide thumbs Also See for Force10 Z9000:

Table of Contents

Null Interfaces

The Null interface is another virtual interface created by the E-Series software. There is only one Null

interface. It is always up, but no traffic is transmitted through this interface.

To enter the INTERFACE mode of the Null interface, use the following command in the

CONFIGURATION mode:

Command Syntax

interface null 0

The only configurable command in the INTERFACE mode of the Null interface is the

Port channel interfaces support link aggregation, as described in IEEE Standard 802.3ad.

This section covers the following topics:

Port channel definition and standards

Port channel benefits

Port channel implementation

Configuration task list for port channel interfaces

Port channel definition and standards

Link aggregation is defined by IEEE 802.3ad as a method of grouping multiple physical interfaces into a

single logical interface—a Link Aggregation Group (LAG) or port channel. A LAG is "a group of links

that appear to a MAC client as if they were a single link" according to IEEE 802.3ad. In FTOS, a LAG is

referred to as a port channel interface.

A port channel provides redundancy by aggregating physical interfaces into one logical interface. If one

physical interface goes down in the port channel, another physical interface carries the traffic.

Port channel benefits

For the E-Series, a port channel interface provides many benefits, including easy management, link

redundancy, and sharing.

Port channels are transparent to network configurations and can be modified and managed as one interface.

For example, you configure one IP address for the group and that IP address is used for all routed traffic on

the port channel.

Command Mode

CONFIGURATION

Enter the INTERFACE mode of the Null interface.

ip unreachable

Interfaces | 385

Table of Contents