Profile-based network configuration adheres to the following guidelines:
Only one network configuration profile (NCP) and one Location profile can be active at any given time on a system. All other existing NCPs on the system are non-operational.
The active NCP can be either reactive or fixed (DefaultFixed). With a reactive NCP, the system monitors the network configuration to adapt to changes in the system's network environment. With the DefaultFixed NCP (the system's only fixed profile), the network configuration is instantiated but not monitored.
The values of the different properties of an NCP constitute a policy that governs how the profile manages the network configuration of the system.
Any changes to an NCP's properties are immediately implemented as new property values, which then become part of the profile's policy for managing the network configuration whenever that profile is active.
If your system is using the reactive mode, then the active NCP that manages its network configuration is either the Automatic NCP or a user-defined reactive NCP that you create. When a reactive NCP is active, you administer network configuration with the netcfg and netadm commands.
If your system is using the fixed mode, then the active NCP that manages its network configuration is always DefaultFixed. When this NCP is active, you administer network configuration by using the dladm and ipadm commands. See Chapter 2, Administering Datalink Configuration in Oracle Solaris and Chapter 3, Configuring and Administering IP Interfaces and Addresses in Oracle Solaris for more information.