Supported Interfaces

ChorusOS systems provide support for Ethernet, loopback and PPP network interfaces.

Network interfaces are lower-level than network protocols, providing the link between network hardware and network protocols. Figure 9-1 illustrates how the ifnet interface does this for Ethernet connections. Figure 9-2 does the same for the ppp interfaces for PPP connections. (Note that BPF here is Berkeley Packet Filter, and is explained in "Supported Devices".

Figure 9-1 Ethernet Networking

The following list describes the network interfaces provided:

ifethN

The ChorusOS Ethernet interface provides the standard solution for high-speed network connections with other systems.

loN

The loopback interface allows a system to communicate with itself through IP without sending packets over the network. It is a software-only interface and does not depend on network transport hardware.

pppN

A PPP interface allows the ChorusOS system to connect to another system using a direct serial line or modem connection in the same way as an Ethernet connection.

gifN

A gif interface allows tunneling IP in IP.

• The Ethernet interface name is built from ifeth concatenated with the unit number, N.

• The loopback interface name is built from lo concatenated with a number, N, usually 0 unless you require more than one loopback interface.

• The PPP interface name is built from ppp concatenated with a unit number, N.

Figure 9-2 PPP Networking