Switch Virtual Interface (SVI) Layer 3 Interface

A Switched Virtual Interface (SVI) is a VLAN of switch ports represented by one interface to a routing or bridging system. There is no physical interface for the VLAN and the SVI provides the Layer 3 processing for packets from all switch ports associated with the VLAN.

SVIs are generally configured for a VLAN for the following reasons:

• Allow traffic to be routed between VLANs by providing a default gateway for the VLAN.
• Provide Layer 3 IP connectivity to the switch.
• Support bridging configurations and routing protocol.

SVIs advantages include:

• Much faster than router on a stick, because everything is hardware-switched and routed.
• No need for external links from the switch to the router for routing.
• Latency is much lower because it does not need to leave the switch

To configure Switch Virtual Interface (SVI) we will use IOSv-L2 on GNS3. How to configure IOSv-L2 on GNS3 for advanced Switching click here.

TASK

• Create VLANs 10 and 20
• Configure all IP addresses as specified in the topology picture.
• Configure SW1 SVI Interface for both VLANs and configure IP address.
• Configure PC1 in VLAN 10 and PC2 in VLAN 20.
• Ensure PC1 and PC2 are able to communicate with each other.

We are using Basic Topology for this scenario

Create VLANs
Switch(config)#vlan 10
Switch(config-vlan)#name Management
Switch(config-vlan)#exit
Switch(config)#vlan 20
Switch(config-vlan)#name Admin
Switch(config-vlan)#exit

Make Members of Vlans
Switch(config)#interface gigabitEthernet 0/0
Switch(config-if)#switchport mode access
Switch(config-if)#switchport access vlan 10
Switch(config-if)# no shutdown
Switch(config)#interface gigabitEthernet 0/1
Switch(config-if)#switchport mode access
Switch(config-if)#switchport access vlan 20
Switch(config-if)# no shutdown

Create SVI Interfaces
Switch(config)#interface vlan 10
Switch(config-if)#ip address 192.168.10.1 255.255.255.0
Switch(config-if)#no shutdown
Switch(config-if)#interface vlan 20
Switch(config-if)#ip address 192.168.20.1 255.255.255.0
Switch(config-if)#no shutdown

Configure PC1 and PC 2 Ip addresses
To configure IP and default gateway in VPCS PCs type ip ip address / slash valeu then gateway
PC> ip 192.168.10.2/24 192.168.10.1
PC ip 192.168.20.2/24 192.168.20.1

Check connectivity

Congratulations: You have configured SVI successfully.