System information

18 IBM and Cisco LAN Switching: Interoperability and Migration Guide
IBM 8371 R2.0 supports four Link Aggregation Group (LAG) instances, with
up to 10 physical Ethernet links in a LAG. The LAG function is not supported
for ATM links. However, the LAG function is supported in conjunction with all
of the layer-3 capabilities (routing, self-learning IP, MPC Client).The LAG
implementation is interoperable with both Sun Microsystem’s Sun Trunking
1.0 and Cisco’s Fast EtherChannel Phase I, and interoperates with several
models of IBM’s 8275 Ethernet switching family.
2.2 ATM switches
In this redbook we consider IBM 8265 Nways ATM switch and the associated
IBM 8210 Multiprotocol Switch Server for interoperability with Cisco’sATM
and Ethernet solutions.
Today, as a result of IBM’s strong investment in the development of ATM
technology and products, many customers operate large IBM 8265 networks
and make use of many advanced functions.
The best strategy for extending and eventually migrating a large IBM 8265
LAN is most likely a gradual build-up of an overlay network, and almost
inevitably this network will be based on Ethernet technology.
A few years ago ATM cell switching was the only technology that seemed to
give a solution to the emerging requirement for managing bandwidth with
Quality of Service and prioritization and to the increasing concern over
security. And in addition, ATM was strongly founded on standards.
Advances in microelectronics and pioneering enhancements of Ethernet
technology, buoyed by the enormous market acceptance of Ethernet, have
changed this picture dramatically.
Overall, ATM was the best technology to integrate diverse protocols and
interfaces for such purposes as sharing bandwidth between transport of data
and voice. But new products are rapidly becoming available based on frame
switching and the switched Gigabit Ethernet interface.
FC LANE 1.0 / 2.0 1.0 / 2.0 1.0 / 2.0
RFC1577 CIP Yes Yes
RFC1483 MPOA Yes Yes
IBM 8371-A16 Cisco 5505