Note that Ethernet ports on repeaters do not use an Ethernet interface. A repeater port connects to the Ethernet media system using the same AUI, MAU, and MDI equipment. However, repeater ports operate at the individual bit level for Ethernet signals, moving the signals directly from segment to segment. Therefore, repeater ports do not use Ethernet interfaces to perform their function, since they do not operate at the level of Ethernet frames.

On the other hand, a repeater hub may be equipped with an Ethernet interface to provide a way to communicate with the hub over the network. This allows the vendor to provide a management interface in the hub that can interact with a remote management station, using the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Managed hubs make it possible for a network manager to remotely monitor the traffic levels and error conditions on hub ports, to shut off ports for troubleshooting, etc.