diff --git a/src/core/netif.c b/src/core/netif.c
index 06c6e9c6..2a79ae67 100644
--- a/src/core/netif.c
+++ b/src/core/netif.c
@@ -68,7 +68,6 @@ netif_add(struct netif *netif, struct ip_addr *ipaddr, struct ip_addr *netmask,
   err_t (* input)(struct pbuf *p, struct netif *netif))
 {
   static int netifnum = 0;
-
   
 #if LWIP_DHCP
   /* netif not under DHCP control by default */
@@ -246,6 +245,41 @@ netif_set_default(struct netif *netif)
            netif ? netif->name[0] : '\'', netif ? netif->name[1] : '\''));
 }
 
+/**
+ * Bring an interface up, available for processing
+ * traffic.
+ * 
+ * @note: Enabling DHCP on a down interface will make it come
+ * up once configured.
+ * 
+ * @see dhcp_start()
+ */ 
+void netif_set_up(struct netif *netif)
+{
+  netif->flags |= NETIF_FLAG_UP;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Ask if an interface is up
+ */ 
+u8_t netif_is_up(struct netif *netif)
+{
+  return (netif->flags & NETIF_FLAG_UP)?1:0;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Bring an interface down, disabling any traffic processing.
+ *
+ * @note: Enabling DHCP on a down interface will make it come
+ * up once configured.
+ * 
+ * @see dhcp_start()
+ */ 
+void netif_set_down(struct netif *netif)
+{
+  netif->flags &= ~NETIF_FLAG_UP;
+}
+
 void
 netif_init(void)
 {
diff --git a/src/include/lwip/netif.h b/src/include/lwip/netif.h
index bca52ea4..d0bda2df 100644
--- a/src/include/lwip/netif.h
+++ b/src/include/lwip/netif.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
 /** whether the network interface is 'up'. this is
  * a software flag used to control whether this network
  * interface is enabled and processes traffic.
- * TODO: who should act on this flag, lwIP stack or driver?? */
+ */
 #define NETIF_FLAG_UP 0x1U
 /** if set, the netif has broadcast capability */
 #define NETIF_FLAG_BROADCAST 0x2U
@@ -105,6 +105,8 @@ struct netif {
   u16_t mtu;
   /** flags (see NETIF_FLAG_ above) */
   u8_t flags;
+  /** link type */
+  u8_t link_type;
   /** descriptive abbreviation */
   char name[2];
   /** number of this interface */
@@ -141,5 +143,8 @@ void netif_set_default(struct netif *netif);
 void netif_set_ipaddr(struct netif *netif, struct ip_addr *ipaddr);
 void netif_set_netmask(struct netif *netif, struct ip_addr *netmast);
 void netif_set_gw(struct netif *netif, struct ip_addr *gw);
+void netif_set_up(struct netif *netif);
+void netif_set_down(struct netif *netif);
+u8_t netif_is_up(struct netif *netif);
 
 #endif /* __LWIP_NETIF_H__ */