diff --git a/mininet/net.py b/mininet/net.py
index 42cc505..a06727c 100755
--- a/mininet/net.py
+++ b/mininet/net.py
@@ -486,9 +486,9 @@ class Mininet( object ):
         "Run iperf UDP test."
         return self.iperf( l4Type='UDP', udpBw=udpBw )
 
-    def link( self, type, src, dst ):
+    def link( self, status, src, dst ):
         """Change link status.
-           type: string {up, down}
+           status: string {up, down}
            src: string
            dst: string"""
         if src not in self.nameToNode:
@@ -506,10 +506,10 @@ class Mininet( object ):
                 srcPort, dstPort = self.topo.port( srcID, dstID )
                 srcIntf = srcNode.intfs[ srcPort ]
                 dstIntf = dstNode.intfs[ dstPort ]
-                result = srcNode.cmd( [ 'ifconfig', srcIntf, type ] )
+                result = srcNode.cmd( [ 'ifconfig', srcIntf, status ] )
                 if result:
                     error( 'link src status change failed: %s\n' % result )
-                result = dstNode.cmd( [ 'ifconfig', dstIntf, type ] )
+                result = dstNode.cmd( [ 'ifconfig', dstIntf, status ] )
                 if result:
                     error( 'link dst status change failed: %s\n' % result )
 
diff --git a/mininet/node.py b/mininet/node.py
index 06dd07d..d204000 100644
--- a/mininet/node.py
+++ b/mininet/node.py
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ class Node( object ):
         """Bring all interfaces up or down.
            action: string to pass to ifconfig"""
         for intf in self.intfs.values():
-            result = self.cmd( [ 'ifconfig', intf, action ] )
+            self.cmd( [ 'ifconfig', intf, action ] )
 
     # Other methods
     def __str__( self ):
@@ -355,11 +355,11 @@ class Node( object ):
 
 class Host( Node ):
     "A host is simply a Node."
-    pass
 
     # Ideally, pausing a host would pause the process.  However, when one
     # tries to run a command on a paused host, it leads to an exception later.
     # For now, disable interfaces to "pause" the host.
+
     def pause( self ):
         "Disable interfaces."
         self.modIntfs('down')
@@ -481,6 +481,7 @@ class KernelSwitch( Switch ):
 
     # Since kernel threads cannot receive signals like user-space processes,
     # disabling the interfaces and ofdatapath is our workaround.
+
     def pause( self ):
         "Disable interfaces and pause ofprotocol."
         self.cmd( 'kill -STOP %ofprotocol' )
@@ -541,6 +542,7 @@ class OVSKernelSwitch( Switch ):
 
     # Since kernel threads cannot receive signals like user-space processes,
     # disabling the interfaces and ofdatapath is our workaround.
+
     def pause( self ):
         "Disable interfaces and pause ovs-openflowd."
         self.cmd( 'kill -STOP %ovs-openflowd' )