Specifications

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Cisco MGX 8850 (PXM45) and MGX 8950 Software Configuration Guide
Release 3, Part Number 78-14788-01 Rev. C0, January 2004
Chapter 7 Switch Operating Procedures
Managing Load Sharing
To clear all connection traces in the path trace buffer, enter the clrpathtracebuffers command at the
active PXM45, as shown in the following example.
M8850_SF.7.PXM.a > clrpathtracebuffers
Clearing a Call at the Destination Node
When a call setup message reaches its destination, you can ensure that the call is cleared by entering the
pathtraceport command as follows:
pop20two.7.PXM.a > pathtraceport <portid> -X
Replace portid using the format slot:bay.line:ifNum. Table 7-1 describes these parameters. The -X
parameter ensures that calls will be cleared once they reach the destination specified in the portid
parameter.
Managing Load Sharing
When redundant PXM45 cards are used, load sharing enables traffic routing through the switch fabric
on both PXM45 cards, doubling the capacity of the switch. Load sharing is enabled by default and should
only be disabled for testing or debugging purposes.
The switch provides two options for load sharing management: Auto Shutdown and Plane Alarm
Threshold. The switch fabric on each PXM45 is made up of 3-switch planes that each contain links to
14 slots within the switch chassis. When the Auto Shutdown feature is enabled and one of these internal
links fails, that link is automatically shut down, and the card in the affected slot must use a link to another
switch plane. If Auto Shutdown is not enabled and a link goes bad, the affected card slot can still attempt
to use that link.
The Plane Alarm Threshold option defines the threshold at which a switch plane is declared bad and
reported as such. When a switch plane is reported bad, the PXM45 on which the switch plan resides
should be replaced.
The following procedures describe how to view the load sharing option settings and how to change them.
Displaying Load Sharing Status
To display whether the status of the load sharing options, enter the dspxbarmgmt command. The
following example shows the display for this command.
pop20two.7.PXM.a > dspxbarmgmt
pop20two System Rev: 02.01 Dec. 07, 2000 18:36:47 GMT
MGX8850 Node Alarm: MAJOR
Load Sharing: Enable
Auto Shutdown: Disable
Plane Alarm Threshold: 3
The Load Sharing and Auto Shutdown lines shows the option status as Enable or Disable. The Plane
Alarm Threshold line displays a number from 1 to 32. On PXM45 cards, the maximum number of slots
to which each plane can connect is 14.