Configuring Ethernet interfaces

How to configure Ethernet interfaces.

About this task

Normally, IP addresses are fixed configuration. Use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) or Stateless Address Autoconfiguration (SLAAC) only when you have a reason to obtain addresses dynamically.

Remember: SLAAC creates link-local addresses. When you specify a local address for an IPv6 address, you might need to specify the address with its zone index. For more information, see RFC 4007 - IPv6 Scoped Address Architecture.

When you select an auto configuration method or the interface is part of an aggregate interface, the DataPower® Gateway ignores configuration data about the Ethernet interface.

On a physical appliance, the following restrictions apply.
  • You cannot modify the physical (PHY) mode for interfaces that use Ethernet modules with 10-gigabit ports. This property controls the operational mode of the interface, which is its speed and duplex capabilities. When you do not use autonegotiation of the physical mode, you can force the Ethernet to use the defined mode.
  • For select interfaces, you can change how the interface responds to Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) packets. For interfaces that you cannot modify, the property is read-only.
    • When enabled, the NIC responds to LLDP packets.
    • When not enabled, LLDP packets are offloaded by the NIC to the operating system.
Attention:
  • If you modify the mgt0 interface and use the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) LAN channel, you might not be able to access the IPMI session. After a few minutes, you can establish a serial over LAN connection again.
  • Disable hardware offload only when directed by IBM® Support. By default, TCP/IP packet processing is offloaded to Ethernet device drivers and chips. Hardware offload might improve performance. This function replaces the network-based TCP segmentation offload (TSO) function.
  • Set the NIC to respond to LLDP packets only when directed by IBM Support. By default, responses to LLDP packets are offloaded by the NIC to the operating system. Having the NIC respond to LLDP packets might improve performance.
  • Based on a default network setting, the DataPower Gateway blocks nonmanagement traffic when at least one network interface has an invalid configuration. When this situation occurs, only management traffic over Telnet, SSH, web management interfaces, and the XML management interface are supported. Until you correct the problem, the DataPower Gateway cannot accept and process client requests.

Procedure

  1. In the search field, enter ethernet.
  2. From the search results, click Ethernet interface.
  3. Click the name of the interface.

Define the basic configuration.

  1. Set the administrative state of the configuration.
  2. Optional: In the Comments field, enter a brief, descriptive summary for the configuration.
  3. From the IP address configuration mode list, select how to configure the interface.
  4. Optional: Enable the Link aggregation mode property to indicate that the Ethernet interface is for an aggregate interface.

Define IP addressing.

  1. In the IP address field, specify the primary IP address and netmask in CIDR format.
  2. Optional: In the Secondary address field, specify secondary IP addresses with their netmask in CIDR format.

Define IP routing.

  1. Optional: In the Default IPv4 gateway and Default IPv6 gateway fields, enter the IP address of the gateway for the specific IP family. When you do not use IPv6 network addresses, do not define a default IPv6 gateway.
  2. Optional: Add static routes to the routing table.

Define standby controls and advanced characteristics.

  1. Optional: On the Standby control tab, enable and define standby controls.
  2. Optional: On the Advanced tab, modify the way that the Ethernet interface works within the network.
    • Change the maximum transmission unit (MTU).
    • Change the MAC (physical) address from the burned-in value on the network interface card (NIC). The NIC provides the physical interface. The address must be in hex; for example, 00:11:22:33:44:55:EE.
    • Change the physical (operational) mode.
    • Force the physical mode.
    • Disable hardware offload.
    • For select interfaces on a physical appliance, control how to respond to LLDP packets.
    • For static IPv6 addresses, define duplicate address detection (DAD) and neighbor discovery (ND) behavior.
    • For 10-gigabit interfaces, disable flow control.
  3. Click Apply to save changes to the running configuration.
  4. Click Save to save changes to the persisted configuration.