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Refer to Port Numbering Conventionfor the exact port location on Z9500 line cards.
Network Processing Units (NPUs)
The Z9500 uses network processing units (NPUs) to process traffic from front-end I/O ports and interconnect packet-
processing elements in the chassis to form one fully connected logical switch. The interconnect links run across 40-Gigabit
Ethernet internal ports. A 40-Gigabit Ethernet internal port is also referred to as a HiGig port.
On the Z9500, each NPU that constitutes a port pipe processes traffic from a set of front-end I/O ports. In the command-line
interface, a Z9500 NPU is entered as unit unit-number.
Configuration Task List for Physical Interfaces
By default, all interfaces are operationally disabled and traffic does not pass through them.
The following section includes information about optional configurations for physical interfaces:
● Overview of Layer Modes
● Configuring Layer 2 (Data Link) Mode
● Configuring Layer 2 (Interface) Mode
● Management Interfaces
● Auto-Negotiation on Ethernet Interfaces
● Clearing Interface Counters
Overview of Layer Modes
On all systems running Dell EMC Networking OS, you can place physical interfaces, port channels, and VLANs in Layer 2 mode
or Layer 3 mode.
By default, VLANs are in Layer 2 mode.
Table 38. Layer Modes
Type of Interface Possible Modes Requires Creation Default State
10 Gigabit Ethernet and 40
Gigabit Ethernet
Layer 2
Layer 3
No Shutdown (disabled)
Management N/A No Shutdown (disabled)
Loopback Layer 3 Yes No shutdown (enabled)
Null interface N/A No Enabled
Port Channel
Layer 2
Layer 3
Yes Shutdown (disabled)
VLAN
Layer 2
Layer 3
Yes, except for the default
VLAN.
No shutdown (active for
Layer 2)
Shutdown (disabled for Layer
3 )
Configuring Layer 2 (Data Link) Mode
Do not configure switching or Layer 2 protocols such as spanning tree protocol (STP) on an interface unless the interface has
been set to Layer 2 mode.
To set Layer 2 data transmissions through an individual interface, use the following command.
● Enable Layer 2 data transmissions through an individual interface.
INTERFACE mode
Interfaces
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