What You Need To Know - ZyXEL Communications ZyWALL USG 50 User Manual

Chapter 11 Interfaces

11.1.2 What You Need to Know

Interface Characteristics
Interfaces generally have the following characteristics (although not all
characteristics apply to each type of interface).
• An interface is a logical entity through which (layer-3) packets pass.
• An interface is bound to a physical port or another interface.
• Many interfaces can share the same physical port.
• An interface belongs to at most one zone.
• Many interfaces can belong to the same zone.
• Layer-3 virtualization (IP alias, for example) is a kind of interface.
Types of Interfaces
You can create several types of interfaces in the ZyWALL.
• Setting interfaces to the same port role forms a port group. Port groups create a
hardware connection between physical ports at the layer-2 (data link, MAC
address) level.
• Ethernet interfaces are the foundation for defining other interfaces and
network policies. RIP and OSPF are also configured in these interfaces.
• VLAN interfaces receive and send tagged frames. The ZyWALL automatically
adds or removes the tags as needed. Each VLAN can only be associated with
one Ethernet interface.
• Bridge interfaces create a software connection between Ethernet or VLAN
interfaces at the layer-2 (data link, MAC address) level. Unlike port groups,
bridge interfaces can take advantage of some security features in the ZyWALL.
You can also assign an IP address and subnet mask to the bridge.
• PPP interfaces support Point-to-Point Protocols (PPP). ISP accounts are
required for PPPoE/PPTP interfaces.
• Cellular interfaces are for 3G WAN connections via a connected 3G device.
• Virtual interfaces provide additional routing information in the ZyWALL. There
are three types: virtual Ethernet interfaces, virtual VLAN interfaces, and
virtual bridge interfaces.
• Trunk interfaces manage load balancing between interfaces.
Port groups and trunks have a lot of characteristics that are specific to each type
of interface. See
details. The other types of interfaces--Ethernet, PPP, cellular, VLAN, bridge, and
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Section 11.2 on page 224 and Chapter 12 on page 277
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