Table of Contents

Supervisor Engine Software
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet Switching Modules
Supported Software Features

Spanning-Tree Protocol
VLANs and VLAN Trunks
Quality of Service
Network Management
Network Security
Multicast Services
Administrative Features
Redundant Supervisor Operation

Supported Internet Protocols
Supported MIBs

Product Overview

Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches ease the transition from traditional shared-hub LANs to large-scale, fully integrated internetworks. These switches provide switched connections to individual workstations, servers, LAN segments, backbones, or other Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches using a variety of media.

For switch hardware descriptions, refer to the Catalyst  6000 and  6500 Series Installation Guide, the Catalyst  6000 and  6500 Series Supervisor Engine Installation Guide, and the Catalyst  6000 and  6500 Series Module Installation Guide.

This chapter consists of these sections:

• Supervisor Engine Software

• Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet Switching Modules

• Supported Software Features

• Supported Internet Protocols

• Supported MIBs

Supervisor Engine Software

Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series supervisor engine software is factory installed on every supervisor engine module. Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet switching modules also use this software.

The supervisor engine software has a command-line interface (CLI) with which you can configure Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series modules. For more information, see the "Command-Line Interfaces" chapter. For descriptions of the available CLI commands, refer to the Catalyst  6000 and  6500 Series Command Reference publication.

The supervisor engine software uses the Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP) to create fault-tolerant internetworks that ensure an active, loop-free data path between all nodes in the network. STP uses an algorithm to calculate the best loop-free path throughout a Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switched network. For more information, see the "Configuring Spanning Tree" chapter.

Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet Switching Modules

Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet switching modules provide high-density switching for both wiring closet and data-center applications.

The 10/100-Mbps Ethernet switching modules connect workstations and repeaters at 10-Mbps port connection speeds. When configured for Fast Ethernet, the modules connect workstations, servers, switches, and routers at up to 100-Mbps port connection speeds. The 10/100BaseTX Fast Ethernet switching module supports autosensing and autonegotiation, allowing Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches to sense and negotiate the correct port connection speed (10 or 100 Mbps) and duplex mode (half or full duplex) automatically with an attached device.

Fast or Gigabit Ethernet connections can interconnect multiple Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches on multiple floors in different buildings of a campus. Fast or Gigabit Ethernet connections can act as redundant backup links between switches, and can expand existing Ethernet networks that need additional capacity.

EtherChannel provides up to 1600-Mbps (full-duplex 100-Mbps ports) or up to 16-Gbps (full-duplex 1000-Mbps ports) parallel bandwidth between a Catalyst  6000 or 6500 series switch and another switch or host by grouping multiple Ethernet interfaces into a single logical transmission path. Ports in an EtherChannel need not be contiguous or on the same module. The Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) provides automated configuration of EtherChannel.

Gigabit Ethernet ports provide high-performance gigabit switching backbone interfaces or serve to aggregate traffic from high-density 10/100-Mbps wiring closets.

The Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches use VLANs and STP on all Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet ports.

For information on configuring the Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet modules, see the "Configuring Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet Switching" chapter. For information on configuring the EtherChannel, see the "Configuring EtherChannel" chapter. For information on configuring STP, see the "Configuring Spanning Tree" chapter. For information on configuring VLANs, see the "Configuring VTP and VLANs" chapter.

Supported Software Features

Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches support these software features:

• Spanning-Tree Protocol

• VLANs and VLAN Trunks

• Quality of Service

• Network Management

• Network Security

• Multicast Services

• Administrative Features

• Redundant Supervisor Operation

Spanning-Tree Protocol

Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches support the Spanning-Tree Protocol (STP) on Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Gigabit Ethernet ports. In addition, the following spanning-tree enhancements are supported:

• STP PortFast---PortFast allows a port with a directly attached host to transition to forwarding state immediately, bypassing the listening and learning states.

• STP UplinkFast---UplinkFast provides fast convergence after a spanning-tree topology change and achieves load balancing between redundant links using uplink groups. Uplink groups provide an alternate path in case the currently forwarding link fails. UplinkFast decreases spanning-tree convergence time for switches that experience a direct link failure.

• STP BackboneFast---BackboneFast decreases spanning-tree convergence time for any switch that has an indirect link failure.

For information on configuring STP, see the "Configuring Spanning Tree" chapter.

VLANs and VLAN Trunks

A VLAN is an administratively defined broadcast domain. A VLAN limits traffic, allows the transmission of traffic among stations that belong to it, and blocks traffic from other stations in other VLANs. VLANs can provide security barriers (firewalls) between end stations on different VLANs within the same switch. Only end stations within the VLAN receive packets that are unicast, broadcast, or multicast (flooded). The VLAN feature includes the following components:

• VLAN trunks---You can extend VLANs from one Catalyst  6000 or 6500 series switch to another, or from a Catalyst  6000 or 6500 series switch to Catalyst series switches that have compatible VLAN support, or from a Catalyst  6000 or 6500 series switch to a router, using high-speed interfaces, such as Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet. Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches support Inter-Switch Link (ISL) and IEEE  802.1Q.

• Load Sharing---You can split VLAN traffic between parallel Ethernet ISL trunks. By setting spanning-tree parameters on a VLAN basis, you can define which VLANs are active on a trunk and which use the trunk as a backup if the active trunk fails.

• VLAN Trunk Protocol (VTP)---VTP maintains naming consistency and connectivity between all devices in the VTP management domain. When you add new VLANs to a Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switch, they distribute this information automatically to all the devices in the management domain. VTP is transmitted on all trunks. You can have redundancy in a domain by using multiple VTP servers, through which you can maintain and modify the global VLAN information. Only a few VTP servers are required in a large network. Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series software supports both VTP version  1 and VTP version  2.

For information on configuring VTP and VLANs, see the "Configuring VTP and VLANs" chapter. For information on configuring Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet VLAN trunks, see the "Configuring VLAN Trunks" chapter.

Quality of Service

The Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches can provide QoS at manually selected levels or at levels based on IEEE 802.1P Class of Service (CoS) bits in ISL or 802.1Q frame headers. For information on configuring QoS, see the "Configuring Quality of Service" chapter.

Network Management

Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches offer network management and control through the CLI or through alternative methods, such as CiscoWorks2000 and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series software supports these network management features:

• SNMP---This protocol exchanges management information between network devices. Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches support these SNMP types and enhancements:

  • SNMP---Simple Network Management Protocol, a Full Internet Standard

  • SNMP v2C---Community-based administrative framework for Version 2 of SNMP

  • SNMP trap message enhancements---Additional information with certain SNMP trap messages, including spanning-tree topology change and configuration change notifications

• Remote Monitoring (RMON)---This protocol allows network monitors and console systems to exchange network monitoring data. The following RMON enchancements are supported:

  • Extended RMON alarms---Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches allow RMON alarms for all Management Information Base (MIB) objects supported by the Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series SNMP agent.

  • RMON2 configuration group---Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches support the RMON2 configuration group trap destinations MIB defined in RFC  2021. When you generate a trap, it is sent to all the hosts configured in the sysTrapReceiverTable and the trapDestTable.

• Switch TopN reports---This feature allows you to generate a report showing metrics for port utilization, broadcasts, multicasts, unicasts, and errors. Reports are available through either SNMP or the CLI.

• Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP)---This protocol discovers and learns information about neighboring Cisco devices on the network. Network management applications can use CDP to retrieve the device type and SNMP-agent address of neighboring devices so the applications can send SNMP queries to neighboring devices.

• Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN)---SPAN allows you to monitor traffic on any port for analysis by a network analyzer or RMON probe.

• System message logs---You can redirect system error messages and output from asynchronous events such as an interface transition to a virtual terminal, internal buffers, or a UNIX host running a syslog server. The syslog format is compatible with 4.3 BSD UNIX.

For information on configuring network management features, see the "Configuring Network Management" chapter.

Network Security

You can protect sensitive information from unauthorized users using these Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series network security features:

• Secure port filtering---You can block input to an Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet port when the Media Access Control (MAC) address of a station attempting to access the port is different from the configured or learned MAC address.

• TACACS+---You can control access to the Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switch using this authentication protocol. TACACS+ determines the identity of a user by authenticating a username with a password.

• IP permit list---You can restrict incoming Telnet and SNMP access to a limited list of IP addresses.

For information on configuring network security features, see the "Configuring Network Security" chapter.

Multicast Services

Multicasting saves bandwidth by forcing the network to replicate packets only when necessary and by allowing hosts to join and leave groups dynamically. The Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches support these multicast services:

• IGMP snooping---IGMP snooping manages multicast traffic in Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches. The switch software examines IP multicast packets and makes forwarding decisions based on their content. Multicast traffic is forwarded only to ports with attached hosts interested in receiving the multicast traffic.

• Broadcast suppression---You can limit the number of broadcasts and multicasts from any port to prevent congestion caused by broadcast storms.

For information on configuring multicast services, see the "Configuring Multicast Services" chapter.

Administrative Features

Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches support these administrative features:

• IP traceroute---Traceroute allows you to display the hop-by-hop path of packets through the network. Only Layer 3 devices, such as routers, are shown.

• Telnet client access---A network manager can use Telnet to connect to other devices on the network from the switch CLI.

• Multiple default IP gateways---You can configure up to three default IP gateways to provide redundancy. If the primary gateway is not reachable, the switch uses the secondary default IP gateways in the order in which they were configured.

• Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)---You can access the administrative interface of the switch using SLIP, which provides IP connectivity over serial links.

• Domain Name System (DNS)---This protocol resolves IP addresses to host names. In addition, a Catalyst  6000 or 6500 series switch populates the system name string based on the switch IP address-to-host name mapping in DNS.

• Network Time Protocol (NTP)---This protocol time-synchronizes Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches by downloading the system time from an NTP server, providing synchronized system logs and other time-specific events.

For information on configuring and using administrative features, see the "Administering the Switch" chapter.

Redundant Supervisor Operation

Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches support an optional redundant supervisor engine. You can install two supervisor engines in slots 1 and 2 of the chassis. When the switch powers up, the supervisor engine that comes up first enters active mode, while the second supervisor engine enters standby mode.

All network management functions occur on the active supervisor engine. The uplink ports on the standby supervisor engine are active and can be used as normal switch ports.

If the active supervisor engine detects a major problem, it resets itself and the standby supervisor engine becomes active.

For information on how supervisor redundancy works, see the "Configuring the Supervisor Engine Software" chapter.

Supported Internet Protocols

Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches support these standard Internet protocols:

• Internet Protocol (IP)---Sends IP datagrams (Layer 3 packets) between nodes.

• Transport Control Protocol (TCP)---Transports full-duplex, connection-oriented, end-to-end packets running on top of IP. For example, Telnet uses TCP.

• User Datagram Protocol (UDP)---Transports connectionless end-to-end packets over IP. For example, SNMP uses UDP.

• Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)---Processes requests for network management stations and reports exception conditions when they occur. These agents require access to information stored in a MIB.

• Bootstrap Protocol (BOOTP)---Allows the switch, as a BOOTP client, to retrieve its IP address from a BOOTP server. BOOTP uses UDP.

• Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP)---Allows hosts to send error or control messages to other hosts. ICMP is a required part of IP. For example, the ping command uses ICMP echo requests to test if a destination is alive and reachable.

• Packet internet groper (ping)---Tests a remote port's accessibility by sending an ICMP echo request and waiting for a reply.

• Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)---Determines the destination MAC address of a host using its known IP address.

• Reverse Address Resolution Protocol (RARP)---Determines an IP address knowing only a MAC address. For example, BOOTP and RARP broadcast requests are used to get IP addresses from a BOOTP or RARP server.

• Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP)---Provides IP connectivity over serial links, which allows IP communications through the console port.

• Telnet---Allows remote access to the administrative interface of a switch over the network (in band). Telnet is a terminal emulation protocol.

• Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP)---Downloads software updates and configuration files to workgroup switch products.

Supported MIBs

Catalyst  6000 and  6500 series switches support these standard and private MIBs:

Posted: Thu Feb 4 18:20:20 PST 1999
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