Brocade Fabric OS Command Reference (Supporting Fabric OS v7.3.0) - Manual (Page 298)

268 Fabric OS Command Reference
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ethIf
2
ethIf
Displays and sets the link operating mode for a network interface.
SYNOPSIS
ethif --set interface -auto-negotiate | -an [on | off] -speed [speed] -duplex [full | half]
ethif --show interface
ethif --help
DESCRIPTION
Use this command to set and view the link operating mode for a network interface.
Changing the link mode is not supported for all network interfaces or for all Ethernet network interfaces.
On the CP of a Brocade DCX or DCX-4S, this command supports eth0 and eth3 as interface
parameters. On all other platforms, only eth0 is supported.
The CP on a Brocade DCX or DCX-4S has two external physical Ethernet management ports, eth0 and
eth3. Both interfaces are bonded together to form a single logical interface, bond0.
The management port IP addresses are assigned to the logical interface, bond0. Link layer Ethernet
operations are applied to the physical interfaces, eth0 and eth3.
Ethernet bonding provides link layer redundancy using the active-standby failover model. The two
Ethernet ports must be part of the same subnet. By default, all traffic is transmitted over the active
Ethernet port, eth0. The second Ethernet port, eth3, acts as a standby interface and no traffic is
transmitted over it. When the active Ethernet port is disconnected, the alternate Ethernet port becomes
active. When the system reboots, the Ethernet port eth0 is always made active if it is connected.
When executed with the bond0 operand, ethif --show displays the active Ethernet port.
When selecting autonegotiation, you can choose the specific link operating modes that are advertised to
the link partner. At least one common link operating mode must be advertised by both sides of the link.
When forcing the link operating mode, both sides of the link must be forced to the same mode. The link
does not work reliably if one side is set to autonegotiate and the other side is set to forced mode.
Exercise care when using this command. Forcing the link to an operating mode not supported by the
network equipment to which it is attached may result in an inability to communicate with the system
through its Ethernet interface. It is recommended that this command be used only from the serial console
port. When used through an interface other than the serial console port, the command displays a warning
message and prompts for verification before continuing. This warning is not displayed and you are not
prompted when the command is used through the serial console port.
For dual-CP systems, this command affects only the CP to which you are currently logged in to set the
link operating mode on the active CP, you must issue this command on the active CP; to set the link
operating mode on the standby CP, you must issue this command on the standby CP. During failover, the
link operating mode is retained separately for each CP, because the physical links may be set to operate
in different modes.
NOTES
The execution of this command is subject to Virtual Fabric or Admin Domain restrictions that may be in
place. Refer to Chapter 1, "Using Fabric OS Commands" and Appendix A, "Command Availability" for
details.
OPERANDS
This command has the following operands:
--set
Sets a link operating mode for a network interface.