Layer 2 Overview¶

Equinix Metal™ servers are configured with a Layer 3 network configuration by default, but many bare metal environments benefit from Layer 2 networking to manage services like DHCP and routing within a private network. To support these use cases we’ve developed a feature that allows users to add Layer 2 virtual networks to their Equinix Metal infrastructure. VLANs can then connect your servers to each other or connect your servers to other infrastructure, like Equinix Fabric.

You can attach servers in the same project within the same Metro to Layer 2 virtual local area networks (VLANs).

Functional Description¶

The server's 2-port NIC is configured with a single bond, bond0, with both interfaces eth0 and eth1 as members of the bond in the default Layer 3 mode.

In bonded modes, VLANs can be attached to the bonded network interface. Bonded modes offer redundancy and high-availability by supporting traffic across the 2 switches. An outage, maintenance, or reboot of one of them will not cause network interruptions.

In unbonded modes, the switch ports serving each of your server's NICs may be independently configured to switch between networking modes enabling you to attach VLANs to the ports. This does introduce a single point of failure on the upstream switch or the network interface. An outage, maintenance, or reboot of one of the ports or switches will cause network interruptions.

Network Configuration Types¶

• Layer 3 Bonded Mode - The default networking mode. Both interfaces are in a bonded configuration handling Internet traffic on Layer 3.

• Hybrid Bonded Mode - Both Layer 3 traffic and Layer 2 traffic is supported on the bonded interface. VLANs can be attached to the bonded interface.

• Hybrid Unbonded Mode - One network interface is removed from the bond and placed in Layer 2 mode. VLANs can then be attached to this interface for Layer 2 connectivity. This preserves Layer 3 connectivity to the server via the remaining interface in the bond, so it can be accessed at its public IP address.

• Layer 2 Bonded Mode - This mode converts the bonded network interface to a Layer 2 only mode. This means all access to the public Internet is lost, and the host can only be reached by the Serial Over SSH (SOS) console. In this configuration the network bond is intact, and is available for attaching VLANs.

• Layer 2 Unbonded Mode - The network bond is dismantled, and the two network interfaces are both placed in a Layer 2 only mode. VLANs can be attached to both interfaces. All access to the public Internet is lost, and the host can only be reached by the Serial Over SSH (SOS) console.

Other Layer 2 Networking Features¶

Native VLANs - The different networking modes support multiple VLANs on the same interface. If you need to support for untagged Layer 2 traffic, you can set a VLAN as a Native VLAN.

Metal Gateways - Provide network access, either to the Internet or another private network, through a single gateway IP address.

Interconnection - Connect your Equinix Metal Layer 2 networks to Equinix Fabric Cloud Service Providers, other public clouds, or your own colocated infrastructure with Virtual Fabric Connections or Dedicated Ports.