Datasheet

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Table 2. Classic, Cisco Express Forwarding 256, and Cisco Express Forwarding 720 10/100 and 10/100/1000 Interface Module
Comparison
Feature Classic Interface Modules Cisco Express Forwarding 256
Interface Modules
Cisco Express Forwarding 720
Interface Modules
Performance or
Forwarding Rate (Mpps)
• 32 Gbps; 15 Mpps per
system
• 256 Gbps using Cisco Express
Forwarding; up to 30 Mpps per system
• Using Distributed Cisco Express
Forwarding upgrade: Up to 15 Mpps
per slot for slots equipped with
distributed forwarding card (DFC)
or DFC3 to support distributed
forwarding
• 720 Gbps using Cisco Express
Forwarding; up to 30 Mpps per system
• Using Distributed Cisco Express
Forwarding upgrade, up to 48 Mpps
sustained per slot for modules
equipped with DFC3 to support
distributed forwarding
Forwarding-Engine
Architecture
• Centralized Cisco
Express Forwarding
engine located on
supervisor policy feature
card (PFC) makes
forwarding decision
• Centralized Cisco Express Forwarding
engine located on supervisor PFC
makes forwarding decision
• Upgradable to Distributed Cisco
Express Forwarding switching* with
optional WS-F6K-DFC or WS-F6K-
DFC3)
• Centralized Cisco Express Forwarding
engine located on supervisor PFC
makes forwarding decision
• Upgradable to Distributed Cisco
Express Forwarding local switching
with optional WS-F6700-DFC3)
Supervisor Engine
Supported
• Supervisor Engine 1A
• Supervisor Engine 2
• Supervisor Engine 720
• Supervisor Engine 1A
• Supervisor Engine 2
• Supervisor Engine 720
• Supervisor Engine 720
Optional DFC Upgrade
Support
• Not supported • Use WS-F6K-DFC) with Supervisor
Engine 2 and switch fabric module 2
(SFM2)
• Use WS-F6K-DFC3) with Supervisor
Engine 720
• Use WS-F6700-DFC3) with
Supervisor Engine 720
Fabric Connections
• Connection to 32-Gbps
shared bus (all
supervisors)
• Connections through single 8-Gbps
channel to switch fabric (Supervisor
Engine 720 or Supervisor Engine 2
with SFM) and 32-Gbps shared bus
• Dual 20-Gbps (40 Gbps total) channel
connection to switch fabric on
Supervisor Engine 720
Chassis or Slot
Support Requirements
• Any slot in any chassis • Any slot in any chassis • Any slot in Cisco Catalyst 6506,
Catalyst 6509, Catalyst 6509-NEB-A,
and slots 9 through 13 on Cisco
Catalyst 6513; Cisco Catalyst 6503 not
supported at current time
* The WS-X6548-GE-TX, WS-X6548V-GE-TX, and WS-X6548-GE-45AF modules do not support distributed forwarding; a WS-F6K-DFC and WS-F6K-
DFC3A/B/BXL) cannot be installed on these interface modules.