Overview of Ethernet Interfaces

Ethernet interfaces on switches can be classified in many ways based on different classification standards.

• Based on the function, Ethernet interfaces 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 can be classified into the following types:
  • FE interfaces
  • GE interfaces
  • XGE interfaces (10GE interfaces)
  • MultiGE interfaces
  • 25GE interfaces
  • 40GE interfaces
  • 100GE interfaces
• Based on the electrical attribute, Ethernet interfaces can be classified into the following types:
  • Electrical interfaces
  • Optical interfaces
• Based on the packet forwarding mode, Ethernet interfaces 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.