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Subinterfaces

A subinterface is a mechanism that allows a single physical interface to support multiple logical interfaces or networks. Several logical interfaces or networks can be associated with a single physical interface. Configuring multiple virtual interfaces, or subinterfaces, on a single physical interface allows greater flexibility and connectivity on the network.

Protocols such as Frame Relay and ATM require that you create one or more virtual circuits over which your data traffic is transmitted to higher layers in the protocol stack. The router requires that you define a subinterface on top of a physical interface as a platform for a virtual circuit, such as a permanent virtual circuit (PVC).

Once you have defined the underlying characteristics of an interface, use the interface command to:

Assign an interface type, such as POS or ATM.
Assign the associated interface specifier to the interface, such as the slot/port or slot/adapter/port and channel/subchannel.
Assign one or more subinterfaces.

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