The ipx_interface Command

The ipx_interface command is used to manually add, modify, and delete IPX capability from an existing network device. You should use ipx_interface when the automatic configuration method just described does not work for you, or if you don't want to leave your interface configuration to chance. ipx_interface allows you to specify the IPX network address, primary interface status, and IPX frame type that a network device will use. If you are creating multiple IPX interfaces, you need one ipx_interface for each.

The command syntax to add IPX to an existing device is straightforward and best explained with an example. Let's add IPX to an existing Ethernet device:

# ipx_interface add -p eth0 etherII 0x32a10103

The parameters in turn mean:

- p

This parameter specifies that this interface should be a primary interface. This parameter is optional.

eth0

This is the name of the network device to which we are adding IPX support.

etherII

This parameter is the frame type, in this case Ethernet-II. This value may also be coded as 802.2, 802.3, or SNAP.

0x32a10103

This is the IPX network address to which this interface belongs.

The following command removes IPX from an interface:

# ipx_interface del eth0 etherII

Lastly, to display the current IPX configuration of a network device, use:

# ipx_interface check eth0 etherII

The ipx_interface command is explained more fully in its manual page.