SONiC Interfaces Configuration

In this article we will explore how to configure interfaces on Enterprise SONiC. We will cover:

Setting interface speed
Shutting and enabling interfaces
Assigning IP addresses

1 – Configuring Interface speed

You can configure interface speed manually or allow it to auto-negotiate.

Example Switch 1

Switch-1# configure terminal
Switch-1(config)# interface Ethernet 1
Switch-1(config-if- Ethernet1)# speed 10000

Example Switch 2

Switch-2# configure terminal
Switch-2(config)# interface Ethernet 1
Switch-2(config-if- Ethernet1)# speed 25000

2 – Disabling and Enabling Interfaces

An interface can be administratively disabled (shutdown) or enabled (no shutdown).

Disabling an interface

Switch-1(config)# interface Ethernet 2
Switch-1(config-if-Ethernet2)# shutdown

Enabling an interface

Switch-1(config)# interface Ethernet 2
Switch-1(config-if-Ethernet2)# no shutdown

Verifying interface status

To verify an interface status use the command show interfaces <interface name>

sonic(config-if-Ethernet2)# show interface Ethernet2
Ethernet2 is up, line protocol is down, reason phy-link-down
Hardware is Eth, address is 0c:64:56:3b:00:0a
IP MTU 9100 bytes
LineSpeed 10G, Auto-negotiation off

3 – Assigning IP Address

IP addresses can be assigned to routed interfaces or VLAN interfaces.

Assign IP to a Physical Interface:

Switch-1# configure terminal
Switch-1(config)# interface Ethernet 3
Switch-1(config-if-Ethernet3)# ip address 10.1.1.1/24

Assign IP to a VLAN Interface:

Switch-2# configure terminal
Switch-2(config)# interface Vlan 20
Switch-2(config-if-Vlan20)# ip address 10.1.20.1/24

Verify configuration:

Switch-1# show ip interfaces
Interface   IP Address    Status
Ethernet3   10.1.1.1/24   up
Vlan20      10.1.20.1/24  up

Notes

Use show interfaces to confirm speed and admin/operational state.
Use show ip interface to confirm IP assignment.
Use ping to test connectivity.
Speed setting must be supported by both ends of the link.
IP addresses can be configured on routed ports or SVIs (Switch Virtual Interfaces).

2 – SONiC Interfaces Configuration