Selecting a profile for an interface of a network device includes accessing profile sequences, where each profile sequence corresponds to an interface. Each profile sequence includes profiles that provide parameters for communicating data. The following are repeated for a profile sequence for an interface until a link satisfies a sequence criterion or until a last profile of the profile sequence is reached to select a profile for the interface. A current profile is accessed, and a link for the interface is initiated according to the current profile. Whether the link for the interface satisfies the sequence criterion is determined. A next profile of the profile sequence is accessed if the link does not satisfy the sequence criterion, and the current profile is selected if the link satisfies the sequence criterion. Data is communicated according to the selected profile.