Network Interface (AKN_INTERFACE)

Active

Yes

Created by

Discovery

Parent class

Network-Interface-Container-AKN_INTERFACE_CONTAINER

Child class

None

Associated local interface

The internet address, in dotted decimal notation, of the local interface that has been associated with this interface. The value *NONE indicates that no association has been made between this interface and another local interface.

Internet Address

Indicates the internet address of the interface.

Line Description

Each TCP/IP interface is associated with a physical network. This field displays the name of the communications line description that identifies the physical network associated with an interface.

The following special values may also be displayed:

• *IPI - This interface is used by Internet Protocol (IP) over Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX). A specific physical line is not associated with an interface used by IP over IPX (IPI).
• *IPS - The interface is used by Internet Protocol (IP) over SNA. A specific physical line is not associated with an interface used by IP over SNA (IPS).
• *LOOPBACK - The interface is a loopback interface. Processing associated with a loopback interface does not extend to a physical line. There is no line description associated with a loopback address.
• *VIRTUALIP - The virtual interface is a circuitless interface. It is used in conjunction with the associated local interface (LCLIFC) when adding standard interfaces. This special value is used to accommodate any of the following cases:

1. 
   
   1. Load balancing. This is the means of having a fixed source IP address regardless of which interface the traffic is being distributed.
   2. Frame-relay multi-access network to define the local network IP address. This allows for multiple virtual circuits to share the same IP network.
   3. Alternate method of network access translation (NAT). This eliminates the need for a NAT box by assigning a globally unique single IP address directly to the box without the need to define an entire network.
   4. Unnumbered networks. This provides a means of associating a local source IP address for an unnumbered point-to-point network.

• *OPC—This special value is used if you are adding an OptiConnect interface over TCP/IP. This interface is attached to the optical bus (OptiConnect).

Line Type

The value in this field indicates the type of physical line used by an interface.

The following link protocols are supported:

• *ASYNC - Asynchronous communications protocol.
• *DDI - Distributed Data Interface protocol.
• *ELAN - Ethernet local area network protocol.
• *FR - Frame relay network protocol.
• *PPP - Point-to-Point Protocol.
• *TRLAN - Token-ring local area network protocol.
• *WLS - Wireless local area network protocol.
• *X25 - X.25 protocol.
• *TDLC - Twinaxial Datalink Control. Used for TCP/IP over Twinax.

The following special values can also be displayed:

• *ERROR - This value is displayed if any system errors other than those for *NOTFND are received while trying to determine the link type for an interface.
• *IPI - Internet Protocol (IP) over Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX). The specific line type that is used by an IP over IPX (IPI) interface cannot be determined.
• *IPS - Internet Protocol (IP) over SNA. The specific line type that is used by an IP over SNA (IPS) interface cannot be determined.
• *NONE - Line not defined. This is used for the *LOOPBACK, *VIRTUALIP, *OPC interfaces. There is no line type value for these interfaces.
• *NOTFND - Not found. This value is displayed if the line description object for this interface cannot be found.

Network address

Indicates the internet address of the IP network or subnetwork to which the interface is attached.

Physical address

Indicates the physical address of the interface.

Status

The current status of the logical interface.

Subnet mask

Indicates the subnet mask identifying the part of the network where this interface attaches.

Type of service

Indicates the type of service used for internet quality selection. Setting the TOS is intended to improve service.The following special values are used to indicate the TOS:

• *NORMAL - used for delivery of datagrams. 
• *MINDELAY - used for prompt delivery of datagrams with the minimize delay indication.
• *MAXTHRPUT - used with high data rate of datagrams with the maximize throughput indication.
• *MAXRL - used for a higher level of effort to ensure delivery of datagrams with the maximize reliability indication.
• *MINCOST - used as a lower cost delivery method of datagrams with the minimize monetary cost indication.
• *IPI - used as an Internet Protocol (IP) over Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX) route. The TOS value is not used for an IP over IPX (IPI) interface or route.
• *IPS - used as an Internet Protocol (IP) over an SNA interface or route. The TOS value is not used for an IP over an SNA (IPS) interface or route.