What command is used to verify the condition of the switch interfaces, including the status of the interfaces and a configured IP address?

What command is used to verify the condition of the switch interfaces, including the status of the interfaces and a configured IP address?

• ipconfig
• ping
• traceroute
• show ip interface brief

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✅ Correct Answer: show ip interface brief

The correct command to verify the condition of switch interfaces — including the status (up/down) of interfaces and any configured IP addresses — is:

show ip interface brief

What is show ip interface brief?

The show ip interface brief command is used on Cisco network devices, especially switches and routers, to quickly display a summary of the device’s interface statuses. It provides essential information in a concise format, making it a go-to diagnostic command for network engineers.

Output Breakdown

When you run show ip interface brief, you’ll see a table similar to this:

Interface              IP-Address      OK? Method Status                Protocol
FastEthernet0/0        192.168.1.1     YES manual up                    up
FastEthernet0/1        unassigned      YES unset  administratively down down
FastEthernet0/2        unassigned      YES unset  down                  down
FastEthernet0/3        unassigned      YES unset  up                    up

Let’s break down each column:

1. Interface – Name of the interface (e.g., FastEthernet0/0).

2. IP-Address – IP address assigned to the interface.

3. OK? – Indicates whether the hardware is functioning correctly.

4. Method – Method by which the IP address was assigned (e.g., manual, DHCP, unset).

5. Status – The line status of the interface (up/down/administratively down).

6. Protocol – The Layer 2 or Layer 3 protocol status (usually IP).

Why Use This Command?

• Quick overview: Instead of navigating through multiple commands, show ip interface brief gives you a fast summary.

• Check for problems: Identify interfaces that are down or have no IP addresses.

• Verify configuration: Confirm that interfaces are up and properly configured with an IP address.

Use Cases in Real Life

1. Troubleshooting Interface Issues:

   • If users are unable to connect, you can use this command to check whether the interface is down.

   • If both the Status and Protocol fields show “up,” the interface is functioning correctly.

2. Validating IP Configuration:

   • See which interfaces have IPs assigned.

   • Detect missing or misconfigured IP addresses quickly.

3. Post-Configuration Verification:

   • After assigning IP addresses or enabling interfaces, you can instantly verify the results.

Related Concepts

1. Interface Status Meanings:

• up/up: The interface is operational.

• administratively down/down: The interface has been disabled manually with the shutdown command.

• down/down: The interface is not functioning physically, possibly due to cable or hardware issues.

2. IP Assignment Methods:

• manual: IP was manually configured by an administrator.

• DHCP: IP was automatically assigned by a DHCP server.

• unset: No IP address assigned.

❌ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

1. ipconfig

• Platform: Windows command-line tool.

• Usage: Used to view IP configurations of a PC.

• Not applicable to switches or routers.

2. ping

• Function: Used to test connectivity between two devices.

• Does not show interface details or IP configuration.

3. traceroute

• Function: Shows the path packets take to a destination.

• Not used to inspect interface statuses or IP assignments.

‍ Example in Cisco CLI

Switch# show ip interface brief

You may see:

Interface              IP-Address      OK? Method Status                Protocol
Vlan1                  192.168.1.10    YES manual up                    up
FastEthernet0/1        unassigned      YES unset  up                    up
FastEthernet0/2        unassigned      YES unset  down                  down

Here, VLAN1 is configured with an IP, which is often the management interface in switches.

Useful Follow-Up Commands

• show running-config: View detailed configuration.

• show interface: View detailed statistics and error counters.

• show vlan: Verify VLAN membership.

• ping <ip>: Test reachability of an IP address.

• show interfaces status: On newer IOS versions, this command also gives useful port status info.

On Switches: Why VLAN Interface IPs Matter

Switch ports are usually Layer 2, meaning they don’t get IPs. But switches use VLAN interfaces (SVIs) like VLAN 1 for management. The IP you see in show ip interface brief usually belongs to these VLAN interfaces, not physical ports.

⚠️ Common Misunderstandings

• Not all interfaces need IPs: Only routed or management interfaces need IPs.

• Down/down ≠ admin down: “down/down” often means a physical issue, while “administratively down” means it’s been disabled manually.

Summary

✅ Final Thought

If you’re managing Cisco switches or routers and need a quick and efficient way to verify interface status and IP address configurations, show ip interface brief is the best and most appropriate command. It’s concise, easy to understand, and extremely powerful for basic diagnostics.

This is why show ip interface brief is the right answer among the choices.