UNI and NNI Interface - Metro Ethernets

In this section, we will see about Metro Ethernet port concepts. In Metro Ethernet switch installation, we many time come across UNI and NNI terms in port configuration.

Today I would like to discuss about this both terms-

Explanation of UNI and NNI interface:

According to MEF 9 forum standard, MAIPU UNI and NNI logical relation is by the following:

• UNI- User network interface
• NNI- Network Node interface

 UNI and NNI is only active in local switch.

 By default, UNI interface is in shutdown status, this you can use for access ports and all UNI interfaces even they are in the same VLAN but cannot access with each other.

 (This prevent the Illegal users connect to switch and access the network, only got the permission from the administrator and open the port from NOC)

 By default, NNI interface is in no shutdown status. NNI port you can use for trunk ports, It use to connect two switches. NNI can communicate with UNI, NNI can communicate with NNI too.

To make both UNI ports to communicate to each other - 

For access ports, I suggest to configure as the UNI port. If both ports are in same VLAN and you want to enable communication between this two ports.

Please configure  community property*

MP3900(config-port-0/0/16)#uni-isolate ?        

    community             Command community

isolated              Command isolated ------ By the default.

By default the UNI ports will be in isolated, you can configure community. Both ports will communicate each other.

This I tested on Maipu 3900 switch with 6.2.71.pck IOS. Every IOS will support this feature.

Hope this information will help be informative for you.

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