Information About MAC ACLs
MAC access control lists (ACLs) are ACLs that filter traffic using information in the Layer 2 header of each packet.
The documentation set for this product strives to use bias-free language. For the purposes of this documentation set, bias-free is defined as language that does not imply discrimination based on age, disability, gender, racial identity, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and intersectionality. Exceptions may be present in the documentation due to language that is hardcoded in the user interfaces of the product software, language used based on RFP documentation, or language that is used by a referenced third-party product. Learn more about how Cisco is using Inclusive Language.
This chapter contains the following sections:
MAC access control lists (ACLs) are ACLs that filter traffic using information in the Layer 2 header of each packet.
You must be familiar with MAC addressing and non-IP protocols to configure MAC ACLs.
You must be familiar with the ACL concepts presented in this document.
ACLs are not supported in port channels.
Parameters |
Default |
---|---|
MAC ACLs |
No MAC ACLs exist by default. |
ACL rules |
Implicit rules apply to all ACLs. |
Configuring MAC ACLs
You can create a MAC ACL and add rules to it. You can also use this procedure to add the ACL to a port profile.
Log in to the CLI in EXEC mode.
Have a name to assign to the ACL that you are creating.
Create a port profile if you want to add the ACL to it.
If you want to also add the ACL to a port profile, you must know the following:
If you are using an existing port profile, you have already created it and you know its name.
The interface type (Ethernet or vEthernet) and the name that you want to give the port profile if you are creating a new port profile.
The direction of packet flow for the access list.
Command or Action | Purpose | |
---|---|---|
Step 1 |
switch# configure terminal |
Enters global configuration mode. |
Step 2 |
switch(config)# mac access-list name |
Creates the MAC ACL and enters ACL configuration mode. |
Step 3 |
switch(config-mac-acl)# {permit | deny} source destination protocol |
Creates a rule in the MAC ACL. The permit and deny keywords support many ways of identifying traffic. For more information, see the Cisco Nexus 1000VE Command Reference. |
Step 4 |
(Optional) switch(config-mac-acl)# statistics per-entry |
(Optional)
Specifies that the device maintains global statistics for packets that match the rules in the ACL. |
Step 5 |
(Optional) switch(config-mac-acl)# show mac access-lists name |
(Optional)
Displays the MAC ACL configuration for verification. |
Step 6 |
(Optional) switch(config-mac-acl)# copy running-config startup-config |
(Optional)
Copies the running configuration to the startup configuration. |
This example shows how to create a MAC ACL:
switch# configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
switch(config)# mac access-list acl-mac-01
switch(config-mac-acl)# permit 00c0.4f00.0000 0000.00ff.ffff any
switch(config-mac-acl)# statistics per-entry
switch(config-mac-acl)# show mac access-lists acl-mac-01
MAC ACL acl-mac-01
statistics per-entry
10 permit 00c0.4f00.0000 0000.00ff.ffff any
switch(config-mac-acl)# copy running-config startup-config
You can change an existing MAC ACL, for example, to add or remove rules.
Use the resequence command to reassign sequence numbers, such as when adding rules between existing sequence numbers.
Log in to the CLI in EXEC mode.
In an existing MAC ACL, know that you cannot change existing rules.
In an existing MAC ACL, know that you can add and remove rules.
Command or Action | Purpose | |
---|---|---|
Step 1 |
switch# configure terminal |
Enters global configuration mode. |
Step 2 |
switch(config)# mac access-list name |
Creates the MAC ACL and enters ACL configuration mode. |
Step 3 |
(Optional) switch(config-mac-acl)# [sequence-number] {permit | deny} source destination protocol |
(Optional)
Creates a rule in the MAC ACL. Using a sequence number allows you to specify a position for the rule in the ACL. Without a sequence number, the rule is added to the end of the rules. The permit and deny keywords support many ways of identifying traffic. For more information, see the Cisco Nexus 1000VE Command Reference. |
Step 4 |
(Optional) switch(config-mac-acl)# no {sequence-number | {permit | deny} source destination protocol} |
(Optional)
Removes the rule that you specify from the MAC ACL. The permit and deny keywords support many ways of identifying traffic. For more information, see the Cisco Nexus 1000VE Command Reference. |
Step 5 |
switch(config-mac-acl)# [no] statistics per-entry |
Specifies that the device maintains global statistics for packets that match the rules in the ACL. The no option stops the device from maintaining global statistics for the ACL. |
Step 6 |
(Optional) switch(config-mac-acl)# show mac access-lists name |
(Optional)
Displays the MAC ACL configuration for verification. |
Step 7 |
switch(config-mac-acl)# copy running-config startup-config |
Copies the running configuration to the startup configuration. |
This example shows how to change a MAC ACL:
switch# configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
switch(config)# show mac access-lists
MAC ACL acl-mac-01
statistics per-entry
10 permit 00c0.4f00.0000 0000.00ff.ffff any
switch(config)# mac access-list acl-mac-01
switch(config-mac-acl)# permit f866.f222.e5a6 ffff.ffff.ffff any
switch(config-mac-acl)# no 10
switch(config-mac-acl)# no statistics per-entry
switch(config-mac-acl)# end
switch# show mac access-lists
MAC ACL acl-mac-01
20 permit f866.f222.e5a6 ffff.ffff.ffff any
switch# copy running-config startup-config
You can remove a MAC ACL from the switch. Ensure that you know whether the ACL is applied to an interface. The switch allows you to remove ACLs that are currently applied. Removing an ACL does not affect the configuration of interfaces where the ACL is applied. Instead, the switch considers the removed ACL to be empty.
To find the interfaces that a MAC ACL is configured on, use the show mac access-lists command with the summary keyword.
Log in to the CLI in EXEC mode.
Know whether the ACL is applied to an interface.
Command or Action | Purpose | |
---|---|---|
Step 1 |
switch# configure terminal |
Enters global configuration mode. |
Step 2 |
switch(config)# no mac access-list name |
Removes the specified MAC ACL from the running configuration. |
Step 3 |
(Optional) switch(config)# show mac access-lists name summary |
(Optional)
Displays the MAC ACL configuration. If the ACL remains applied to an interface, the command lists the interfaces. |
Step 4 |
(Optional) switch(config)# copy running-config startup-config |
(Optional)
Copies the running configuration to the startup configuration. |
This example shows how to remove a MAC ACL:
switch# configure terminal
switch(config)# no mac access-list acl-mac-01
switch(config)# show mac access-lists acl-mac-01 summary
switch(config)# copy running-config startup-config
You can change sequence numbers assigned to rules in a MAC ACL. Resequencing is useful when you need to insert rules into an ACL and there are not enough available sequence numbers.
Log in to the CLI in EXEC mode.
Command or Action | Purpose | |
---|---|---|
Step 1 |
switch# configure terminal |
Enters global configuration mode. |
Step 2 |
switch(config)# resequence mac access-list name starting-sequence-number increment |
Assigns sequence numbers to the rules contained in the ACL, where the first rule receives the number specified by the starting-sequence number that you specify. Each subsequent rule receives a number larger than the preceding rule. The difference in numbers is determined by the increment number that you specify. |
Step 3 |
(Optional) switch(config-mac-acl)# show mac access-lists name |
(Optional)
Displays the MAC ACL configuration for verification. |
Step 4 |
(Optional) switch(config)# copy running-config startup-config |
(Optional)
Copies the running configuration to the startup configuration. |
This example shows how to change sequence numbers in a MAC ACL:
switch# configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
switch(config)# show mac access-lists acl-mac-01
MAC ACL acl-mac-01
10 permit 00c0.4f00.0000 0000.00ff.ffff any
20 permit f866.f222.e5a6 ffff.ffff.ffff any
switch(config)# resequence mac access-list acl-mac-01 100 10
switch(config)# show mac access-lists acl-mac-01
MAC ACL acl-mac-01
100 permit 00c0.4f00.0000 0000.00ff.ffff any
110 permit f866.f222.e5a6 ffff.ffff.ffff any
switch(config)# copy running-config startup-config
Physical Ethernet interfaces
Virtual Ethernet interfaces
A MAC ACL can also be applied to a port profile that is attached to a physical Ethernet interface or a virtual Ethernet interface.
![]() Note |
ACLs cannot be applied on a port-channel interface. However, an ACL can be applied on a physical Ethernet interface that is not part of the port channel. |
Log in to the CLI in EXEC mode.
Know that the ACL that you want to apply exists and is configured to filter traffic in the manner that you need for this application.
Command or Action | Purpose | |
---|---|---|
Step 1 |
switch# configure terminal |
Enters global configuration mode. |
Step 2 |
switch(config)# interface { ethernet ¦ vethernet } port |
Places you into interface configuration mode for the specified interface. |
Step 3 |
switch(config-if)# mac port access-group access-list [in | out] |
Applies a MAC ACL to the interface. |
Step 4 |
(Optional) switch(config-if)# show running-config aclmgr |
(Optional)
Displays the ACL configuration. |
Step 5 |
(Optional) switch(config-if)# copy running-config startup-config |
(Optional)
Copies the running configuration to the startup configuration. |
This example shows how to apply a MAC ACL as a port ACL:
switch# configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
switch(config)# interface vethernet 1
switch(config-if)# mac port access-group acl-mac-01 in
switch(config-if)# show running-config aclmgr
mac access-list acl-mac-01
100 permit 00C0.4F00.0000 0000.00FF.FFFF any
110 permit F866.F222.E5A6 FFFF.FFFF.FFFF any
interface Vethernet1
mac port access-group acl-mac-01 in
switch(config-if)# copy running-config startup-config
You can add a MAC ACL to a port profile.
Log in to the CLI in EXEC mode.
Create the MAC ACL to add to this port profile and know its name.
If you are using an existing port profile, know its name.
If you are creating a new port profile, know the interface type (Ethernet or vEthernet) and the name you want to give the profile.
Know the direction of packet flow for the access list.
Command or Action | Purpose | |
---|---|---|
Step 1 |
switch# configure terminal |
Enters global configuration mode. |
Step 2 |
switch(config)# port-profile [type {ethernet | vethernet}] name |
Places you in port profile configuration mode for the named port profile. |
Step 3 |
switch(config-port-prof)# mac port access-group name {in | out} |
Adds the named ACL to the port profile for either inbound or outbound traffic. |
Step 4 |
(Optional) switch(config-port-prof)# show port-profile name profile-name |
(Optional)
Displays the configuration for verification. |
Step 5 |
(Optional) switch(config-port-prof)# copy running-config startup-config |
(Optional)
Copies the running configuration to the startup configuration. |
This example shows how to add a MAC ACL to a port profile:
switch# configure termnal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
switch(config)# port-profile vm_eth1
switch(config-port-prof)# mac port access-group acl-mac-01 out
switch(config-port-prof)# show port-profile name vm_eth1
port-profile vm_eth1
type: Vethernet
description:
status: enabled
max-ports: 32
min-ports: 1
inherit:
config attributes:
mac port access-group acl-mac-01 out
no shutdown
evaluated config attributes:
mac port access-group acl-mac-01 out
no shutdown
assigned interfaces:
port-group: vm_eth1
system vlans: none
capability l3control: no
capability iscsi-multipath: no
capability vxlan: no
capability l3-vn-service: no
port-profile role: none
port-binding: static
switch(config-port-prof)# copy running-config startup-config
Use one of the following commands to verify the configuration:
Command |
Purpose |
---|---|
show mac access-lists |
Displays the MAC ACL configuration. |
show running-config aclmgr |
Displays the ACL configuration, including MAC ACLs and the interfaces that they are applied to. |
show running-config interface |
Displays the configuration of the interface to which you applied the ACL. |
show mac access-lists summary |
Displays a summary of all configured MAC ACLs or a named MAC ACLs. |
Use the following commands for MAC ACL monitoring:
Command |
Purpose |
---|---|
show mac access-lists |
Displays the MAC ACL configuration. If the MAC ACL includes the statistics per-entry command, the show mac access-lists command output includes the number of packets that have matched each rule. |
clear mac access-list counters |
Clears statistics for all MAC ACLs or for a specific MAC ACL. |
Configuration Examples for MAC ACLs
This example shows how to create an MAC ACL named acl-mac-01 and apply it as a port ACL on physical ethernet interface which is not a member of port-channel and configuration verification with match counters.
switch(config)# configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
switch(config)# mac access-list acl-mac-01
switch(config-mac-acl)# 100 permit 00c0.4f00.0000 0000.00ff.ffff any
switch(config-mac-acl)# 110 permit f866.f222.e5a6 ffff.ffff.ffff any
switch(config-mac-acl)# statistics per-entry
switch(config-mac-acl)# end
switch# configure terminal
Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL/Z.
switch(config)# interface ethernet 3/5
switch(config-if)# mac port access-group acl-mac-01 out
switch(config-if)# show mac access-lists acl-mac-01 summary
MAC ACL acl-mac-01
statistics per-entry
Total ACEs Configured:2
Configured on interfaces:
Ethernet3/5 - egress (Port ACL)
Active on interfaces:
Ethernet3/5 - egress (Port ACL)
switch(config-if)# show mac access-lists acl-mac-01
MAC ACL acl-mac-01
statistics per-entry
100 permit 00c0.4f00.0000 0000.00ff.ffff any [match=0]
110 permit f866.f222.e5a6 ffff.ffff.ffff any [match=546]
switch(config-if)# clear mac access-list counters
switch(config-if)# show mac access-lists acl-mac-01
MAC ACL acl-mac-01
statistics per-entry
100 permit 00c0.4f00.0000 0000.00ff.ffff any [match=0]
110 permit f866.f222.e5a6 ffff.ffff.ffff any [match=0]
switch(config-if)#