Network Interface Features

Loopback Interface, IEEE 802.1Q VLAN Support

Loopback interface is a virtual interface that allows a device to send and receive data to itself, typically used for testing and management purposes. It does not require a physical connection and is always active. IEEE 802.1Q VLAN Support allows a network interface to communicate over multiple virtual networks (VLANs) simultaneously. This enables the separation of different networks over a single physical connection.

Link Aggregation

• LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol): Combines multiple physical connections into a single logical connection, increasing both bandwidth and redundancy.
• Failover: Automatically switches to a backup connection when the primary connection fails, ensuring uninterrupted communication.
• Load Balance: Distributes traffic evenly across multiple connections, improving performance.
• Round Robin: Sends data packets sequentially over each connection, aiming for even usage of all connections.

Bridging / STP / Ethernet Bypass

Bridging: Connects two or more network interfaces so that they can operate within the same network. STP (Spanning Tree Protocol): Automatically disables backup connections to prevent network loops and re-enables them when necessary. Ethernet Bypass: Directly connects the input and output ports to ensure that network traffic continues even if the security device is powered off.

Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN)

VXLAN extends Layer 2 (L2) networks over Layer 3 (L3) infrastructure, allowing virtual machines in different data centers to communicate as if they were on the same network.

NAT64, IPv6 6to4 Tunneling

NAT64: Allows IPv6 clients to communicate with servers that only speak IPv4 by converting IPv6 packets to IPv4. This enables transition between the two protocols. IPv6 6to4 Tunneling: A temporary solution that carries IPv6 traffic over IPv4 infrastructure. It wraps IPv6 packets in IPv4, enabling use in networks that do not support IPv6.

Static ARP

Static ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is the manual and permanent mapping of an IP address to a MAC address. This allows the device to send packets directly to the specified MAC address without needing to perform an ARP query.