Overview of IP Addressing

You can configure IP addressing through all the switch’s interfaces. You can also:

  • Easily edit a switch configuration file to allow downloading the file to multiple switches without overwriting each switch’s unique gateway and VLAN 1 IP addressing.

  • Assign up to 32 IP addresses to a VLAN (multinetting).

  • Select an IP address to use as the source address for all outgoing traffic generated by a specified software application on the switch. This allows unique identification of the software application on the server site regardless of which local interface has been used to reach the destination server.

Why configure IP addressing? In its factory default configuration, the switch operates as a multiport learning bridge with network connectivity provided by the ports on the switch. However, to enable specific management access and control through your network, you will need IP addressing. Effects of IP addressing on switch operation shows the switch features that depend on IP addressing to operate.