Configuring a media type on an Ethernet interface

About media types

You can use an ifconfig command option called mediatype to configure the speed and duplex or specify autonegotiation for an Ethernet interface. The media types available for the filer interfaces are described in the following table.

Note
For 10Base-T and 100Base-T interfaces, the mediatype option of the interface and its link partner (the interface on the other end of the connection) must be the same, that is, both interfaces must be configured either for speed and duplex or for autonegotiation. Otherwise, a duplex mismatch will occur, which can lead to poor performance.

Understanding media type settings for a fiber Gigabit Ethernet interface

The media type setting for a fiber Gigabit Ethernet interface depends on the type of Gigabit Ethernet controller installed on your filer. You can use the sysconfig command to identify the type of controller on your filer.

If the sysconfig command output indicates that you have a Gigabit Ethernet Controller number, where number is a roman numeral, you do not specify the media type. The interface only supports full-duplex. In addition, by default, the interface detects whether the link partner autonegotiates. Based on the outcome of autonegotiation, the operational flow control setting is determined.

If the sysconfig command output indicates that you have a Gigabit Ethernet Controller (without the roman numeral), you must ensure that the filer interface and its link partner have the same media type configured (that is, autonegotiation enabled or disabled); otherwise, the Gigabit Ethernet Controller does not work. The media type auto-1000fx enables autonegotiation and 1000fx disables autonegotiation on the Gigabit Ethernet Controller.

Because the Gigabit Ethernet Controller only supports full-duplex, it does not need to be configured on the interface.

How media type auto works

The behavior of media type auto is determined by the type of network adapter installed on your filer. The following table lists the autonegotiated parameters and the possible values for each type of network adapter.

Note
You can use the ifstat command to determine the speed, duplex, and flow control settings that get negotiated between the interface of the filer and the link partner. For more information about the ifstat command and the information it displays, see Displaying network interface statistics.

Network adapter	Autonegotiated parameters (autonegotiated values)
10Base-T/100Base-T	Speed and duplex (half or full)
100Base-T/1000Base-T	Speed. If speed is 100 Mbps, duplex (half or full) and flow control are negotiated. If speed is 1000 Mbps, flow control is negotiated.
10Base-T/100Base-T/ 1000Base-T	Speed. If speed is 10 Mbps, duplex (half or full) is negotiated. If speed is 100 Mbps, duplex and flow control are negotiated. If speed is 1000 Mbps, flow control is negotiated.
Gigabit Ethernet	Flow control.

Configuring media types

To configure a media type on an Ethernet interface on a filer, complete the following step.

Step

Action

1
Enter the following command, choosing an appropriate media type option:

ifconfig interface mediatype { tp | tp-fd | 100tx | 100tx-fd | 1000fx | auto-1000fx | auto }

interface is the name of an interface.

Example

You configure an interface e2 as a 100Base-T full-duplex interface with the following command:

ifconfig e2 mediatype 100tx-fd