Solved: multi layer switches and wan connection

sarahr202 · ‎06-08-2009

Hi every body!

I have few questions.

do Modular switches offer only ethernet ports? i saw some pictures of modular switches ,none of them shows any serial interfaces.

Say we have two sides. Both sides have multi- layer switches. These sides needed to be connected by T1 line. Do I need stand-alone router on each side to connect them via T1?

thanks a lot!

Giuseppe Larosa · ‎06-08-2009

Hello Sarah,

your understanding is correct: only C6500 high end multilayer switches can host WAN ports using either Flexwan (that allows to reuse port adapters of C7200 and C7500 up to 2 PA in one flexwan) or SIP linecards with SPA adapters.

So in most cases a T1 link is handled by an edge router that connects with a LAN link to the multilayer switch(es)

Hope to help

Giuseppe

View solution in original post

Jon Marshall · ‎06-08-2009

Sarah

That is the trade off between performance on L3 switches and the greater functionality of routers.

So routers have many more interface types, support a greater QOS feature set, support NAT etc.. all of which is absent from the majority of switches. As Guiseppe noted the 6500 does actually support some WAN interface cards.

Jon