In one example, an interface stack of a network component is defined that appears from the perspective of a configuration application or device kernel as including a base level with a first physical slave interface and a second physical slave interface, neither of which has an IP address, and the base level includes an IPv4 physical interface and/or an IPv6 physical interface, an intermediate level having a virtual bonded interface that represents the first physical slave interface and the second physical slave interface together as a single, unified interface, and the intermediate level includes an IPv6 alias interface and/or a VLAN interface, and a top level including a virtual interface on the virtual bonded interface, and the top level includes an alias interface. A respective alias IP address is created and assigned to the alias interfaces, and the interface stack is accessible by way of the alias interfaces.