Network devices use interfaces to exchange data. Interfaces are classified into physical interfaces and logical interfaces. Physical interfaces are categorized as service interfaces and management interfaces. Service interfaces, such as GE service interfaces, transmit services. Management interfaces, such as MEth management interfaces, are used to manage devices. Logical interfaces, such as VLANIF and loopback interfaces, do not exist physically and are configured manually. Logical interfaces can transmit services.
Ethernet has become an important local area network (LAN) networking technology because it is flexible, simple, and easy to implement. Ethernet interfaces are physical interfaces provided for operation and configuration. They are mainly used to receive and send data.
Based on the function, Ethernet interfaces on switches can be classified into the following types:
MEth management interfaces: allow users to log in to the device to perform configuration and management operations. MEth management interfaces do not transmit services.
Service interfaces: receive and send service data.
Based on the interface rate, Ethernet interfaces on switches can be classified into the following types:
FE interfaces
GE interfaces
XGE interfaces (10GE interfaces)
MultiGE interfaces
40GE interfaces
Based on the electrical attribute, Ethernet interfaces on switches can be classified into the following types:
Electrical interfaces
Optical interfaces
Based on the packet forwarding mode, Ethernet interfaces on switches can be classified into the following types:
Layer 2 Ethernet interfaces: are physical interfaces working at the data link layer. They can only forward received packets at Layer 2 or be added to VLANs to forward packets at Layer 3 through VLANIF interfaces.
Layer 3 Ethernet interfaces: are physical interfaces working at the network layer. IP addresses can be assigned to these interfaces. They can forward received packets at Layer 3. That is, they can receive and send packets whose source and destination IP addresses are on different network segments.
