Administrator Guide

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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
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• Place the interface in Layer 2 (switching) mode.
INTERFACE mode
switchport
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 ip-address
• Enable the interface.
INTERFACE mode
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Example of Error Due to Issuing a Layer 3 Command on a Layer 2 Interface
If an interface is in the incorrect layer mode for a given command, an error message is displayed (shown in bold). In the
following example, the ip address command triggered an error message because the interface is in Layer 2 mode and the ip
address command is a Layer 3 command only.
Dell(conf-if)#show config
!
interface TenGigabitEthernet 1/2
no ip address
switchport
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Dell(conf-if)#ip address 10.10.1.1 /24
% Error: Port is in Layer 2 mode Te 1/2.
Dell(conf-if)#
To determine the configuration of an interface, use the show config command in INTERFACE mode or the various show
interface commands in EXEC mode.
Configuring Layer 3 (Interface) Mode
To assign an IP address, use the following commands.
Interfaces 363