Interface Types

Switch interfaces are used to exchange data. Interfaces are classified into physical interfaces and logical interfaces.

• Physical interfaces

  Physical interfaces (excluding management interfaces) transmit service data and are classified into the following types:

  • LAN-side interface: is used by the switch to exchange data with network devices on LANs.
  • WAN-side interface: is used by the switch to exchange data with devices on external networks.
  • Management interface: is used to log in to switches for configuration and management purposes.
  • USB interface: is a data transmission interface. A USB interface can have a USB flash drive connected to upgrade the switch or transfer configuration files or other files.
  • Clock interface: is used to obtain clock signals from external clock sources or output local clock signals to other devices.
  • CSS interface: is used to construct the CSS.

  Physical interfaces are sometimes called ports. This document uses the term interface.

  Table 1-1 describes the physical interfaces that the switch supports.

  Table 1-1 Description of LAN-side interfaces

  Interface	Description
  Fast Ethernet (FE) interface	A LAN-side FE interface works at the data link layer, provides a maximum transmission rate of 100 Mbit/s, processes Layer 2 protocol packets, and implements Layer 2 forwarding.
  Gigabit Ethernet (GE) interface	A LAN-side GE interface works at the data link layer, provides a maximum transmission rate of 1000 Mbit/s, processes Layer 2 protocol packets, and implements Layer 2 forwarding.
  10GE interface	A LAN-side 10GE interface works at the data link layer, provides a maximum transmission rate of 10 Gbit/s, processes Layer 2 protocol packets, and implements Layer 2 forwarding.
  25GE interface	A LAN-side 25GE interface works at the data link layer, provides a maximum transmission rate of 25 Gbit/s, processes Layer 2 protocol packets, and implements Layer 2 forwarding. NOTE: A 100GE interface on the LSS7C06HX6S0, and LSS7C06HX6E0 can be split into four 25GE interfaces.
  40GE interface	A LAN-side 40GE interface works at the data link layer, provides a maximum transmission rate of 40 Gbit/s, processes Layer 2 protocol packets, and implements Layer 2 forwarding. A 40GE interface can work as an independent interface or be split into four 10GE interfaces.
  100GE interface	A LAN-side 100GE interface works at the data link layer, provides a maximum transmission rate of 100 Gbit/s, processes Layer 2 protocol packets, and implements Layer 2 forwarding. A 100GE interface can work as an independent interface or be split into ten 10GE interfaces, four 10GE interfaces, four 25GE interfaces, or two 40GE interfaces.
  Combo interface	A combo interface consists of an optical Ethernet port and an electrical Ethernet port on the panel. Each combo interface matches only one internal forwarding port. The electrical and optical ports of a combo interface are multiplexed, and only one of them can work at a time. NOTE: For details about the combo interface supported by the switch, see the Hardware Description or click Hardware Query Tool.

  Table 1-2 describes the management interfaces that the switch supports.

  Table 1-2 Description of management interfaces

  Interface	Description
  Console interface	A data connection equipment (DCE) interface that complies with the EIA/TIA-232 standard. The console interface is connected to the COM serial interface of a configuration terminal to set up an on-site configuration environment.
  ETH interface	Complies with the 10/100BASE-TX standard. The ETH interface can be connected to a network interface of a configuration terminal or network management workstation to set up an on-site or remote configuration environment.

• Logical interfaces

  Logical interfaces do not physically exist. They are manually configured and can be used to exchange data and transmit service data.

  Table 1-3 describes the logical interfaces that the switch supports.

  Table 1-3 Description of logical interfaces

  Interface	Description
  Eth-Trunk	An Eth-Trunk has Layer 2 and Layer 3 features and is formed by binding multiple Ethernet interfaces to provide more bandwidth and higher transmission reliability.
  Tunnel interface	A tunnel interface has Layer 3 features, transmits packets, and identifies and processes packets transmitted over a tunnel.
  MTunnel interface	An MTunnel interface (MTI) is the ingress or egress of a multicast tunnel (MT). The local provider edge (PE) sends data of the private network through the MTI, and the remote PE receives data of the private network through the MTI.
  VLANIF interface	A VLANIF interface has Layer 3 features and enables VLANs to communicate after being assigned an IP address.
  Logical CSS interface	A Logical CSS interface is a logical interface used to implement the CSS function. The CSS function virtualizes multiple switches into a logical switch to provide massive data forwarding and improve network reliability in data centers.
  Ethernet sub-interface	An Ethernet sub-interface is configured on a main interface to allow the local device to communicate with multiple remote devices.
  Loopback interface	A loopback interface is always Up and can be configured with a 32-bit subnet mask.
  NULL interface	A null interface is used to filter routes because any data packets received by the null interface are discarded.
  Virtual-Template (VT) interface	A virtual template contains the negotiation parameters required for PPPoE authentication, including authentication methods, negotiation timeout interval, and maximum receive unit (MRU).
  NVE interface	An NVE interface is the logical interface to establish VXLAN tunnels with other NVE devices.
  VBDIF interface	A VBDIF interface is the virtual interface based on a BD to support Layer 3 features and implement communication between different BDs, between BD and non-BD networks, and between BDs and Layer 3 networks.
  Virtual Ethernet (VE) interface	A VE interface is used when other data link layer protocols need to be carried by the Ethernet protocol.