Port Settings Configuration on SFE/SGE Managed Switches

Objectives

Port Settings can be modified to help control traffic flow through a managed network. This article explains how to configure Port Settings on SFE/SGE Managed Switches.

Applicable Devices

• SFE/SGE Managed Switches

LAG Management

Define Port Settings

Step 1. Log in to the web configuration utility and choose Bridging > Port Management > Port Settings. The Port Settings page opens:

Step 2. Enter a table entry number  to copy the configuration from in the Copy From Entry Number field .

Step 3. Enter the table number to which the port configuration is to be copied to in the To Entry Number(s) field.

The Port Settings table contains the following fields:

• Interface — The interface field displays the port number.

• Port Type — This displays the port type of the specified interface. The possible field values are: 

– 1000M — Copper (copper cable).

– 1000M — ComboC (combo port with copper cable 3).

– 1000M — ComboF (combo port with optic fiber cable).

– Fiber — This entry indicates if the port has a fiber optic port connection.

• Port Status — The port connection status is displayed in this field. The possible field values are: 

– UP — Port is connected.

– Down — Port is disconnected.

• Port Speed — The current port speed is displayed.

• Duplex Mode — Th port duplex mode is displayed. This field can be configured only when auto negotiation is disabled and the port speed is set to 10M or 100M.  This field cannot be configured on LAGs (Link Aggregation Groups). The possible field values are: 

– Full — Full indicates that the interface supports transmitting simultaneously between the device and the client in both directions. 

– Half — Half indicates that the interface supports transmission only in one direction at a given time between the device and the client.

• PVE — This shows that this port is protected by an uplink.  Hence forwarding decisions are overwritten by those of the port that protects it. PVE is supported in Layer 2 mode. 

• LAG — This field indicates if the port is part of a Link Aggregation Group (LAG)

Step 2. Click Apply to save Port Settings. 

Modify Port Settings

Step 1. Log in to the web configuration utility and choose Bridging > Port Management > Port Settings. The Port Settings page opens.

Step 2. Click Edit to edit a specific entry. The Edit Port window appears:

 

Step 3. Choose a port number from the drop-down list if a different port is required. The port number is displayed in the Port field.

Step 4. Enter a user defined name for the port in the Description field.

• Port Type — This field indicates the port type. The possible field values are: 

– 1000M — Copper (copper cable).

– 1000M — ComboC (combo port with copper cable 3).

– 1000M — ComboF (combo port with optic fiber cable).

– Fiber —This entry indicates if  the port has a fiber optic port connection.

Step 5. Choose whether the port is currently under operation from the drop-down list. The possible field values are Up and Down.

• Current Port Status — The port connection status is displayed. 

Step 6. (Option for Layer 2) Suspended Port — Check this option to reactivate a port if the port has been disabled through the locked port security option or through Access Control List configurations.

Step 7. (Option for Layer 3) Reactivate Suspended Port — Check this option to reactivate a port if the port has been disabled through the locked port security option or through Access Control List configurations.

• Operational Status — The operational status field indicates whether the port is currently active or inactive. 

Step 8. Choose an option from the Admin Speed list to set the port's configured rate. The speed setting options available in the drop-down list are determined by the port type set. Admin Speed can be set only when the port auto-negotiation is disabled. 

• Current Port Speed — The current port speed is displayed. 

• Current Duplex Mode/ Admin Duplex — This entry indicates the port duplex mode. The Current Duplex Mode/ Admin Duplex field is configurable only when auto negotiation is disabled and the port speed is set to 10M or 100M. This field cannot be configured on LAGs. The possible field values are: 

– Full — Full indicates that the interface supports transmitting simultaneously between the device and the client in both directions. 

– Half — Half indicates that the interface supports transmission only in one direction at a given time between the device and the client.

• Current Duplex Mode — The current port duplex mode is displayed.

Step 9.  Choose enable or disable Auto Negotiation from the drop-down list. Auto Negotiation enables a port to advertise its transmission rate, duplex mode and flow control abilities to its partner. 

• Current Auto Negotiation — The Auto Negotiation Status on the port is displayed.

Step 10. Check the capabilities to be advertised by the Port. The possible field values are:

–  Max Capability — Indicates that all port speeds and Duplex mode settings can be accepted.

– 10 Half — Indicates that the port is advertising at 10 Mbps speed and half duplex mode setting.

– 10 Full — Indicates that the port is advertising at 10 Mbps speed and full duplex mode setting. 

– 100 Half — Indicates that the port is advertising at 100 Mbps speed and half duplex mode setting.

– 100 Full — Indicates that the port is advertising at 100 Mbps speed and full duplex mode setting.

– 1000 Full — Indicates that the port is advertising at 1000 Mbps speed and full duplex mode setting.

• Current Advertisement —The port advertises its capabilities to its neighbor port to start the negotiation process. The possible field values are those specified in the Admin Advertisement field.

• Neighbor Advertisement — Displays the neighbor port (the port to which the selected interface is connected) advertises its capabilities to the port to start the negotiation process. The possible values are those specified in the Admin Advertisement field.

Step 11. Choose enable or disable from the Back Pressure mode drop down-list. Back Pressure mode is used with Half Duplex mode to disable ports from receiving messages. The Back Pressure mode is configured for ports currently in the Half Duplex mode.

• Current Back Pressure — Displays the Back Pressure mode on the port.

Step 12.  Choose an option from the Flow Control drop-down list to enable or disable the auto negotiation of flow control on the port. Choose from Enable, Disable, Auto-negotiation.

• Current Flow Control — Displays the current Flow Control setting. Choose from Enable, Disable, Auto-Negotiation.

Step 13. Choose an option from the MDI/MDIX drop-down list. This displays the Media Dependent Interface (MDI)/ Media Dependent Interface with Crossover (MDIX) status on the port. Hubs and switches are deliberately wired opposite the way end stations are wired, So that when a hub or switch is connected to an end station, a straight through Ethernet cable can be used, and the pairs are matched up properly. When two hubs or switches are connected to each other, or two end stations are connected to each other, a crossover cable is used to ensure that the correct pairs are connected. The possible field values are:

 – MDIX — Use for hubs and switches.

 – Auto — Use to automatically detect the cable type.

 – MDI — Use for end stations.

• Current MDI/MDIX — Displays the current MDI/ MDIX setting.

• LAG — Defines if the port is part of a Link Aggregation Group (LAG).

• PVE — The PVE field indicates that this port is protected by an uplink. This means that the forwarding decisions are overwritten by those of the port that protects it. PVE is supported in Layer 2 mode. 

Step 14. Click Apply to save Port Settings. The port settings are modified and the device is updated.