Second-Generation Versatile Interface Processor

This chapter provides information about the second-generation Versatile Interface Processor (VIP2), which is used with the Cisco 7000 series routers and the Cisco 7500 series routers. The VIP2 installs in the interface processor slots in your router, and uses a single motherboard with up to two port adapters. The VIP2 port adapters provide the individual LAN, WAN, or LAN/WAN interface ports. The VIP2 can be removed from a chassis while power is on and the system is operating.

The VIP2 products have the following static random-access memory (SRAM), dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), and synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) configurations:

VIP2-15(=)--1 MB of SRAM and 8 MB of DRAM
VIP2-40(=)--2 MB of SRAM and 32 MB of DRAM
VIP2-50(=)--4 to 8 MB of SRAM and 32 to 128 MB of SDRAM

For VIP2-15 and VIP2-40, the central processing unit (CPU) is a Reduced Instructions Set Computing (RISC), MIPS 4700 processor that has an internal operating frequency of 100 megahertz (MHz). For VIP2-50, the CPU is an R5000 that has an internal operating frequency of 200 MHz.

All VIP2 models have 128 KB of nonvolatile random-access memory (NVRAM).

The following SRAM and DRAM upgrade products are available for the VIP-10, VIP2-15, and VIP2-20 models:

VIP2-10/15--upgrades a VIP2-10 to a VIP2-15 with 1 MB of SRAM
VIP2-10/40-UPG and VIP2-20/40-UPG--upgrades a VIP2-10 or a VIP2-20 to a VIP2-40 with 2 MB of SRAM and 32-MB of DRAM
VIP2-15/40--upgrades a VIP2-15 to a VIP2-40 with 2 MB of SRAM and 32-MB of DRAM

The DRAM upgrade product (MEM-VIP240-64MB-D=) is compatible with VIP2-40 and upgrades a VIP2-40 to 64 MB of DRAM, with two 32-MB DRAM SIMMs.

The following SRAM and SDRAM memory upgrade products are available for the VIP2-50:

MEM-VIP250-8M-S=--8-MB SRAM daughter card for the VIP2-50 only
MEM-VIP250-64M-D=--64-MB SDRAM DIMM for the VIP2-50 only
MEM-VIP250-128M-D=--128-MB SDRAM DIMM for the VIP2-50 only

Note For additional VIP2 DRAM (or SDRAM) and SRAM information, refer to the configuration note Upgrading DRAM and SRAM on the Second-Generation Versatile Interface Processor (VIP2) (Text Part Number 78-3323-xx, Customer Order Number DOC-VIP2UPG=), which ships with the DRAM (or SDRAM) and SRAM upgrade kits, and is available on the Documentation CD-ROM.

Also refer to the section "VIP2 Hardware Prerequisites" for additional DRAM (or SDRAM) and SRAM prerequisites.

Figure 13-1 shows a VIP2-15 or VIP2-40 with installed port adapters. The VIP2-15 and VIP2-40 motherboards and port adapters have handles that allow for easy installation and removal.

Figure 13-1: VIP2-15 or VIP2-40 with Two Port Adapters (Top View)

The VIP2-15 and VIP2-40 firmware (microcode), which contains card-specific software instructions, resides in a programmable read-only memory (PROM) device. Single in-line memory modules (SIMMs) contain the DRAM and a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) contains the SRAM

Figure 13-2 shows a VIP2-50 with installed port adapters. The VIP2-50 motherboard and port adapters have handles that allow for easy installation and removal. The VIP2-50 firmware (microcode), which contains card-specific software instructions, resides in a programmable read-only memory (PROM) device. A dual in-line memory module (DIMM) contains the SDRAM, and a proprietary daughter card contains the SRAM.

Figure 13-2: VIP2-50 with Two Port Adapters (Top View)

Note You can install VIP2s in any available interface processor slots in your Cisco 7000 series or Cisco 7500 series router.

VIP2 Hardware Prerequisites

This section provides information about hardware requirements for the VIP2. The VIP2 operates with the CyBus in the Cisco 7500 series routers. The VIP2 operates with the CxBus in the Cisco 7000 series routers providing these routers have the 7000 Series Route Switch Processor (RSP7000) and the 7000 Series Chassis Interface (RSP7000CI) installed.

Note For proper operation with the VIP2, we recommend that your RSP or RSP7000 has at least 24 MB of DRAM. You cannot use DRAM designated for the RSP1, RSP2, RSP4, or RSP7000 on the VIP2.

The VIP2-15 and VIP2-40 use the same motherboard; they are differentiated by their respective DRAM and SRAM configurations. The VIP2-50 uses a different motherboard and SDRAM and SRAM memory devices than the other VIP2 models; therefore, you cannot install VIP2-50 SDRAM or SRAM memory devices on the earlier VIP2 models, and you cannot install DRAM or SRAM memory devices from earlier VIP2 models on the VIP2-50. Further, you cannot use DRAM designated for the Route Switch Processor (RSP) on the VIP2 models.

Caution The VIP2 supports online insertion and removal, which allows you to remove and replace a VIP2 without first shutting down the system. Online insertion and removal maximizes router availability by letting you add or remove VIP2s during system operation; however, the system might indicate a hardware failure if you fail to follow proper procedures. (For specific instructions on VIP2 replacement, refer to the configuration note Second-Generation Versatile Interface Processor (VIP2) Installation and Configuration--Document Number 78-2658-xx, where xx is the latest version.)

Caution To prevent system problems, do not remove port adapters from the VIP2 motherboard or attempt to install other port adapters on the VIP2 motherboard while the system is operating. To replace port adapters, you must first remove the VIP2 from its chassis slot. (For specific instructions on port adapter replacement, refer to the specific port adapter configuration note that shipped with your port adapter.)

Note The maximum transmission unit (MTU) sizes available for high-speed, high-bandwidth port adapters on a VIP2 might require additional VIP2 SRAM to ensure adequate packet buffers. The minimum recommended VIP2 model is a VIP2-15; however, this differs by port adapter. At a minimum, we recommend the VIP2-40 for use with the Distributed Switching (DSW) features.

Also, the Distributed Services (DS) features might require the additional VIP2 DRAM and SRAM available on the VIP2-40 or VIP2-50. Refer to Table 13-1.

Table 13-1: VIP2 Model Minimum Recommendations for Using DSW and DS

VIP2 Models	Recommended for DSW	Recommended for DS
VIP2-15: 1 MB of SRAM, and 8 MB of DRAM	No	No
VIP2-40: 2 MB of SRAM, and 32 MB of DRAM	Yes¹	Yes¹
VIP2-50: 4 to 8 MB of SRAM, and 32 to 128 MB of SDRAM	Yes²	Yes²

¹ Software licenses are required to use DSW and DS and are included with the VIP2-40.
² Software licenses are required to use DSW and DS and are included with the VIP2-50.

Note Individual port adapters and VIP2 models used with these port adapters might have different minimum Cisco IOS software requirements; refer to the configuration notes that shipped with your port adapters for these specific Cisco IOS software requirements.

VIP2 Port and Service Adapters

The VIP2 uses modular port and service adapters that have all of the electrical interface circuitry and provide either network interfaces or a distributed services (DS) feature. Port and service adapters attach to the port adapter slots on the VIP2 motherboard; they are field replaceable units (FRUs) and are available as spare parts.

Up to two port adapters can be installed on a VIP2 motherboard; however, if only one port adapter is required, a blank port adapter must be installed in the adjacent port adapter slot to preserve the integrity of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and chassis airflow. Only one service adapter can be installed on a VIP2 and typically requires a specific port adapter model to be installed in the adjacent port adapter slot. (Refer to the configuration notes that shipped with your service adapters for these specific requirements.)

Each port adapter provides some number of a specific electrical interface, which currently include, but are not limited to, the following types:

IEEE 802.12 100VG AnyLAN--100-Mbps half duplex
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
IEEE 802.3 Ethernet--10BASE-T and 10BASE-FL, half duplex
IEEE 802.3u Fast Ethernet--100BASE-TX and 100BASE-FX, half and full duplex
IEEE 802.5 Token Ring--half and full duplex
Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI)--half and full duplex
High-Speed Serial Interface (HSSI)--EIA/TIA-612/613, full duplex
6.3 Mbps, E1-G.703/G.704
Synchronous serial--E1, EIA-TIA-232, EIA-TIA-449, EIA-530, T1, V.35, X.21
Basic Rate Interface (BRI) for ISDN
Primary Rate Interface (PRI) for ISDN
E1 and T1
Channelized E1 and T1

Each service adapter provides some distributed services (DS) feature, which currently includes, but is not limited to, the following types:

Data encryption
Data compression

Note Specific discussions of each of these port and service adapter types are beyond the scope of this publication.

For complete installation and configuration information, refer to the individual configuration note that shipped with your port or service adapter.

Additional VIP2 References

The following publications describe specific VIP2 features and functions; these publications ship with the VIP2 models, VIP2 memory upgrade products, and VIP2-based port adapters:

Second-Generation Versatile Interface Processor (VIP2) Installation and Configuration--Document Number 78-2658-xx, Customer Order Number DOC-VIP2CN=
Upgrading DRAM and SRAM on the Second-Generation Versatile Interface Processor (VIP2)--Document Number 78-3323-xx, Customer Order Number DOC-VIP2UPG=
The individual configuration notes that shipped with your VIP2-based port adapters

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