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# About Ethernet networks

You use Ethernet networks as data networks. You can create the following types of Ethernet networks:

- Tagged

- Untagged

- Tunnel

## About tagged Ethernet networks

A tagged network uses virtual LANs (VLANs), allowing multiple networks to use the same physical connections. By sharing physical uplinks, you can separate traffic streams from different servers using the same set of uplinks.

Tagged Ethernet networks that are connected to enclosure interconnects require a VLAN ID.

- You can add multiple Ethernet networks that use the same VLAN ID. This capability is required for logical interconnects that use an active/active configuration.

- Each network name in the appliance must be unique.

#### Tagged Ethernet networks and network sets

You can assign multiple tagged Ethernet networks to a named group called a network set. Later, when you add a connection in a server profile, you can select this network set to enable multiple networks to be selected for that single connection. Any change made to a network set is applied to all server profiles using the network set.

## About untagged Ethernet networks

An untagged network is a single dedicated network without a VLAN tag, used to pass traffic without VLAN tags. Any tagged packets are dropped. Forwarding is done by MAC address. You might want to configure an untagged network for iSCSI storage traffic or set up networks without configuring VLANs.

## About tunnel Ethernet networks

A tunnel network is a single dedicated network with a dedicated set of uplink ports used to pass a group of VLANs without changing the VLAN tags. You may want to use tunnel networks if you want to expand beyond the current total of 1000 networks per logical interconnect and 162 networks per downlink port, or if you want to control the resources and QoS. You can have a tunnel network with a maximum of 4094 VLANs.

## About Smart Link

Smart Link enables the server software to detect and respond to a loss of network connectivity on the interconnect uplink ports. With Smart Link enabled, the Virtual Connect interconnects will drop the Ethernet link on all server connections associated with the network if all uplink ports within an uplink set lose their connection to the data center switches. Smart Link causes the operating system to detect a failure and direct traffic to an alternate path.

In order for the Smart Link functionality to operate as designed, valid DCC (Device Control Channel)-compatible NIC firmware and drivers must be installed on the server blade.

Smart Link can be helpful when using certain server network teaming (bonding) policies. Smart Link must be enabled for active/active, horizontal stacking, and primary-slice configurations.

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