Table Of Contents

Maximizing Throughput on the ASA 5550

Embedded Network Interfaces

Balancing Traffic to Maximize Throughput

What to Do Next

Maximizing Throughput on the ASA 5550

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Note This chapter applies only to the Cisco ASA 5550.

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The Cisco ASA 5550 adaptive security appliance is designed to deliver maximum throughput when configured according to the guidelines described in this chapter.

This chapter includes the following sections:

•Embedded Network Interfaces

•Balancing Traffic to Maximize Throughput

•What to Do Next

Embedded Network Interfaces

The adaptive security appliance has two internal buses providing copper Gigabit Ethernet and fiber Gigabit Ethernet connectivity:

•Slot 0 (corresponding to Bus 0) has four embedded copper Gigabit Ethernet ports

•Slot 1 (corresponding to Bus 1) has four embedded copper Gigabit Ethernet ports and four embedded SFPs that support fiber Gigabit Ethernet connectivity

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Note To establish fiber connectivity on the adaptive security appliance, you must order and install SFP modules for each fiber port you want to use. For more information on fiber ports and SFP modules, see the "Installing SFP Modules" section on page 1-6.

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Figure 2-1 shows the embedded ports on the Cisco ASA 5550.

Figure 2-1 Embedded Ports on the ASA 5550

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Note Although Slot 1 has four copper Ethernet ports and four fiber Ethernet ports, you can use only four Slot 1 ports at a time. For example, you could use two Slot 1 copper ports and two fiber ports, but you cannot use fiber ports if you are already using all four Slot 1 copper ports.

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Balancing Traffic to Maximize Throughput

To maximize traffic throughput, configure the adaptive security appliance so that traffic is distributed equally between the two buses in the device. To achieve this, lay out the network so that all traffic flows through both Bus 0 (Slot 0) and Bus 1 (Slot 1), entering through one bus and exiting through the other.

In Figure 2-2 and Figure 2-3, network traffic is distributed so that all traffic flows through both buses in the device, enabling the adaptive security appliance to deliver maximum throughput.

Figure 2-2 Traffic Evenly Distributed for Maximum Throughput (Copper to Copper)

Figure 2-3 Traffic Evenly Distributed for Maximum Throughput (Copper to Fiber)

Figure 2-4 illustrates several configurations that do not enable the adaptive security appliance to deliver maximum throughput because network traffic flows through only one bus on the device.

Figure 2-4 Configurations Not Enabling Maximum Throughput

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Note You can use the show traffic command to see the traffic throughput over each bus. For more information about using the command, see the Cisco Security Appliance Command Reference.

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What to Do Next

Continue with Chapter 1, "Installing the ASA 5550."