IBM 9077 Configuration of IP-Forwarding Media Cards, Ethernet 10/100Base-T Configuration, 105

Chapter 4. Configuration of IP-Forwarding Media Cards

This chapter covers the installation and configuration of selected IP Forwarding media cards in an SP Switch Router. For detailed information refer to GRF Configuration Guide 1.4, GA22-7366.

4.1 Ethernet 10/100Base-T Configuration

This section provides the information needed to configure the Ethernet 10/100Base-T media card. It comes in two flavors, one with four ports and the other with eight ports available. Configuration is the same for each type of card. Each physical interface on them is capable of connecting to either 10 or 100 Mbits/s (autosensing and autonegotiation) and may operate half duplex (HDX) or full duplex (FDX). So this is a point to take care of, as the ports of the connecting devices must meet FDX or HDX setting, if they do not, a high rate of collisions will be reported.

As Ethernet seems to be best known all over the world and configuring this type of card is really straightforward, this will was the easiest way to get interfaces other than switch connected to the GRF.

4.1.1 Physical and Logical Interfaces

Physical Interfaces

The dual-speed Ethernet media card provides either four or eight physical interfaces. An interface can run in either full duplex or half duplex mode. Additionally, an interface can operate at 10 or 100 Mbits/s, as needed. This enables the GRF Fast Ethernet media card to interoperate with 10Base-T and 100Base-T devices. These capabilities can be configured to perform in a specific mode and at a specific transfer rate, or to autosense the mode and rate capacity of the connected host or network.

Logical Interfaces

A logical interface is configured by its entry in the grifconfig.conf file, where it is assigned an IP address and netmask. A logical interface is uniquely identified by its Ethernet interface name.

Interface Name

The generic form of an Ethernet interface name is ge0xy. See Figure 36 on page 106 for the naming conventions on the Ethernet card.

© Copyright IBM Corp. 1998 105