Chapter 11 Configuring Interface Characteristics; Understanding Interface Types - Cisco 2950 - Catalyst Switch Configuration Manual

Configuring Interface Characteristics
This chapter describes the types of interfaces on a Catalyst 2950 or Catalyst 2955 switch and how to
configure them. The chapter has these sections:
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Note For complete syntax and usage information for the commands used in this chapter, refer to the switch
command reference for this release and the online Cisco IOS Interface Command Reference for Cisco
IOS Release 12.1.

Understanding Interface Types

This section describes the different types of interfaces supported by the switch with references to
chapters that contain more detailed information about configuring these interface types. The rest of the
chapter describes configuration procedures for switch ports.
Switch ports are Layer 2-only interfaces associated with a physical port. They are used for managing the
physical interface and associated Layer 2 protocols and do not handle routing or bridging. A switch port
can be an access port or a trunk port.
You can configure a port as an access port or trunk port or let the Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP)
operate on a per-port basis to determine if a switch port should be an access port or a trunk port by
negotiating with the port on the other end of the link.
Configure switch ports by using the switchport interface configuration commands. For detailed
information about configuring access port and trunk port characteristics, see
VLANs."
Note The physical switch ports can be 10/100 Ethernet ports, 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, 100BASE-FX ports,
1000BASE-SX ports, Long-Reach Ethernet (LRE) ports, Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC) module
ports, or small form-factor pluggable (SFP)-module ports. For more information, refer to the switch
hardware installation guide.
78-11380-10
Understanding Interface Types, page 11-1
Using the Interface Command, page 11-4
Configuring Ethernet Interfaces, page 11-8
Monitoring and Maintaining the Interfaces, page 11-15
C H A P T E R
Catalyst 2950 and Catalyst 2955 Switch Software Configuration Guide
11
Chapter 17, "Configuring
11-1