Reference Guide

268 | Content Addressable Memory
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Microcode
Microcode is a compiled set of instructions for a CPU. On Dell Force10 systems, the microcode controls
how packets are handled.
There is a default microcode, and several other microcodes are available, so that you can adjust packet
handling according to your application. Specifying a microcode is mandatory when selecting a CAM
profile (though you are not required to change it).
Note: Not all CAM profiles and microcodes are available for all systems. Refer to the Command Line
Interface Reference Guide for details regarding available profiles for each system.
Table 13-3. Microcode Descriptions
Microcode Description
default Distributes CAM space for a typical deployment
lag-hash-align For applications that require the same hashing for bi-directional traffic (for example, VoIP call or P2P
file sharing). For port-channels, this microcode maps both directions of a bi-directional flow to the
same output link.
lag-hash-mpls For hashing based on MPLS labels (up to five labels deep). With the default microcode, MPLS packets
are distributed over a port-channel based on the MAC source and destination address. With the
lag-hash-mpls microcode, MPLS packets are distributed across the port-channel based on IP source and
destination address and IP protocol. This is applicable for MPLS packets with up to five labels. When
the IP header is not available after the 5th label, hashing for default load-balance is based on MPLS
labels. For packets with more than 5 labels, hashing is always based on the MAC source and
destination address.
ipv6-extacl Use this microcode when IPv6 is enabled.
acl-group For applications that need 16k egress IPv4 ACLs (for example, the VLAN ACL Group feature, which
permits group VLANs IP egress ACLs.
ipv4-vrf Apply to IPv4 VRF CAM profile.
ipv4-v6-vrf Enable IPv4 and IPv6 CAM profiles for VRF.
l2-switched-pbr E-Series TeraScale only: If you apply a PBR redirect list (using the ip re-direct group command) to a
VLAN interface, Layer 2 traffic is redirected and dropped by default. To avoid having Layer 2 traffic
affected by PBR, configure a CAM profile that supports l2-switched-pbr (IPv4-LDA) microcode.
l2-switched-pbr microcode allows only Layer 3 traffic to be redirected while Layer 2 traffic is switched
within the VLAN.