MSFC2 card on the 6500

[rj]

Here is an excerpt from an MLS link:

Understanding Hardware Layer 3 Switching on PFC2 and DFCs:

" Hardware Layer 3 switching allows the PFC2 and DFCs, instead of the MSFC2, to forward IP unicast traffic between subnets. Hardware Layer 3 switching provides wire-speed forwarding on the PFC2 and DFCs, instead of in software on the MSFC2. Hardware Layer 3 switching requires minimal support from the MSFC2. The MSFC2 routes any traffic that cannot be hardware Layer 3 switched.

Hardware Layer 3 switching supports the routing protocols configured on the MSFC2. Hardware Layer 3 switching does not replace the routing protocols configured on the MSFC2.

Hardware Layer 3 switching on the PFC2 supports modules that do not have a DFC. The MSFC2 forwards traffic that cannot be Layer 3 switched."

1. If a LAN was setup using only static routing between VLANS on a 6500 switch, then the MSFC2 card would not be necessary?

2. "The MSFC2 forwards traffic that cannot be Layer 3 switched." Which traffic is that?

Thanks,

RJ

[tbaranski · Accepted solution]

You need an MSFC2 to do routing. Some examples of packets that may need to be forwarded to the MSFC for software routing are packets that match an ACL statement that includes the "log" keyword, packets with IP options, policy routed packets, and so forth. But the exact list varies depending on the specific hardware and software versions in use.

[rj]

Thanks for the quick reply!

RJ