Default State Of Physical Interfaces; Connector Types; Auto-Mdi/Mdix Feature; Configuring The Rj-45 Interface - Cisco PIX 500 Series Configuration Manual

Configuring and Enabling RJ-45 Interfaces
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Default State of Physical Interfaces

By default, all physical interfaces are shut down. You must enable the physical interface before any
traffic can pass through it (either alone or as part of a redundant interface pair), or through a subinterface.
For multiple context mode, if you allocate an interface (physical, redundant, or subinterface) to a
context, the interfaces are enabled by default in the context. However, before traffic can pass through the
context interface, you must first enable the physical interface in the system configuration according to
this procedure.
By default, the speed and duplex for copper (RJ-45) interfaces are set to auto-negotiate.

Connector Types

The ASA 5550 adaptive security appliance and the 4GE SSM for the ASA 5510 and higher adaptive
security appliance include two connector types: copper RJ-45 and fiber SFP. RJ-45 is the default. If you
want to configure the security appliance to use the fiber SFP connectors, see the
Enabling Fiber Interfaces" section on page

Auto-MDI/MDIX Feature

For RJ-45 interfaces on the ASA 5500 series adaptive security appliance, the default auto-negotiation
setting also includes the Auto-MDI/MDIX feature. Auto-MDI/MDIX eliminates the need for crossover
cabling by performing an internal crossover when a straight cable is detected during the auto-negotiation
phase. Either the speed or duplex must be set to auto-negotiate to enable Auto-MDI/MDIX for the
interface. If you explicitly set both the speed and duplex to a fixed value, thus disabling auto-negotiation
for both settings, then Auto-MDI/MDIX is also disabled.

Configuring the RJ-45 Interface

To enable the interface, or to set a specific speed and duplex, perform the following steps:
Step 1 To specify the interface you want to configure, enter the following command:
hostname(config)# interface physical_interface
hostname(config-if)#
where the physical_interface ID includes the type, slot, and port number as type[slot/]port.
The physical interface types include the following:
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For the PIX 500 series security appliance, enter the type followed by the port number, for example,
ethernet0.
Cisco Security Appliance Command Line Configuration Guide
5-2
Default State of Physical Interfaces, page 5-2
Connector Types, page 5-2
Auto-MDI/MDIX Feature, page 5-2
ethernet
gigabitethernet
management (ASA 5500 only)
Chapter 5 Configuring Ethernet Settings, Redundant Interfaces, and Subinterfaces
5-3.
"Configuring and
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