Layer 3 Switching Software and Feature Configuration Guide, 12.1(10)EY - Preface [Cisco Catalyst 8500 Series Campus Switch Routers]

Preface
Audience
New and Changed Information
Organization
Related Documentation

Preface

This preface describes the audience, organization, and conventions of the Layer 3 Switching Software Feature and Configuration Guide, and provides information on how to obtain related documentation. This preface includes the following topics:

Audience
New and Changed Information
Organization
Related Documentation
Conventions
Obtaining Documentation
Obtaining Technical Assistance

Audience

This guide is written for those who will configure your switch router, such as the following:

System administrators who are responsible for installing and configuring internetworking equipment, are familiar with the fundamentals of router-based internetworking, and who are familiar with Cisco IOS software and Cisco products
System administrators who are familiar with the fundamentals of router-based internetworking and who are responsible for installing and configuring internetworking equipment, but who might not be familiar with the specifics of Cisco products or the routing protocols supported by Cisco products
Customers with technical networking background and experience

New and Changed Information

The following table lists the changes and addition to this guide.

Feature	Description	Chapter or Section
CiscoView Autonomous Device Package (ADP)	Provides another, more user-friendly, interface for configuring and managing the switch router apart from the existing conventional methods of terminal access.	For more information, see "Configuring the Route Processor," of this configuration guide.
VC Bundling on the ATM uplink module.	Allows you to configure multiple VCs that have different QoS characteristics between any pair of ATM-connected routers.	For more information, see "Configuring ATM Uplinks," of this configuration guide.
Policy-Based Routing (PBR)	Policy based routing is a more flexible mechanism for routing packets than destination routing. It is a process whereby the router puts packets through a route map before routing them. The route map determines which packets are routed to which router next.	For more information, see "Configuring QoS Scheduling and PBR," of this configuration guide.
Tag Switching	Tag switching combines the performance and capabilities of Layer 2 (data link layer) switching with the proven scalability of Layer 3 (network layer) routing.	For more information, see "Configuring Tag Switching," of this configuration guide.

In addition to those listed above, the following features are new to this release:

IP Qos support on Gigabit Ethernet interface modules
Rate limiting and per-port traffic shaping

For more information on these features, see the ATM Switch Router Software Configuration Guide.

Organization

This guide is organized as follows:

Chapter	Title	Description
Chapter 1	Overview of Layer 3 Switching and Software Features	Gives an overview of Layer 3 switching, shows how a Layer 3 switch router fits into the network, lists the types of interfaces used in Layer 3 switching, and lists Layer 3 software features.
Chapter 2	Before You Begin	Describes Cisco IOS command modes, lists the information you need to have available before you begin configuring your switch router, and gives you a suggested process to follow.
Chapter 3	Configuring the Route Processor	Describes the initial configuration of the switch router's route processor, including passwords, management port, host name, Network Time Protocol (NTP), and redundant CPU operation. This chapter also describes how to use Flash PC Cards to accomplish various system administration tasks.
Chapter 4	Configuring Interfaces	Describes general interface configuration for Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet interfaces. This chapter also describes how to configure VLAN frame encapsulation using ISL and 802.1Q protocols.
Chapter 5	Configuring Networking Protocols	Describes how to configure networking and routing protocols for Layer 3 switching.
Chapter 6	Configuring Packet over SONET	Describes basic configuration tasks for Packet over SONET (POS) connections.
Chapter 7	Configuring ATM Uplinks	Describes basic configuration tasks for the ATM Uplink interface.
Chapter 8	Configuring Virtual LANs	Describes basic configuration tasks for Virtual LANs (VLANs).
Chapter 9	Configuring Bridging	Describes how to configure transparent bridging for Ethernet, and Integrated Routing and Bridging (IRB).
Chapter 10	Configuring EtherChannel	Describes how to create the EtherChannel and assign individual interfaces to the EtherChannel.
Chapter 11	Configuring QoS Scheduling and PBR	Describes Layer 3 switching quality of service (QoS) features and provides information to help you fine tune QoS on your system.
Chapter 12	Configuring Switching Database Manager	Describes the switching database manager (SDM) features used for managing the ternary content addressable memory (TCAM).
Chapter 13	Configuring Tag Switching	Describes Tag Switching, and the highlights Tag Switching on the Catalyst 8540 MSR and Catalyst 8540 CSR.
Chapter 14	Configuring Access Control	Describes how to use and configure Access Control Lists (ACLs).
Appendix A	Cisco IOS Commands Not Supported in Layer 3 Switching Software	Lists the commands not supported in Layer 3 switching.
Appendix B	Configuration Examples	Provides examples of switch router configurations.
Appendix C	Using Technical Support	Lists information the Technical Assistance Center (TAC) requires to troubleshoot a problem, and tells you how to contact TAC.

Conventions

Unless otherwise noted, all information in this document is relevant to the following platforms:

Catalyst 8540 CSR
Catalyst 8510 CSR
Catalyst 8540 MSR with Layer 3 functionality

Platform specific sections have the platform name appended to the title in parentheses. For example, the section "Configuring Redundancy and Enhanced High System Availability (Catalyst 8540)" in "Configuring the Route Processor," is only relevant to the Catalyst 8540 platform.

This document uses the following conventions:

Convention	Description
boldface font	Commands and keywords are in boldface.
italic font	Arguments for which you supply values are in italics.
[ ]	Elements in square brackets are optional.
{x \| y \| z}	Alternative keywords are grouped in braces and separated by vertical bars.
[x \| y \| z]	Optional alternative keywords are grouped in brackets and separated by vertical bars.
string	A nonquoted set of characters. Do not use quotation marks around the string or the string will include the quotation marks.
screen font	Terminal sessions and information the system displays are in screen font.
boldface screen font	Information you must enter is in boldface screen font.
italic screen font	Arguments for which you supply values are in italic screen font.
	This pointer highlights an important line of text in an example.
^	The symbol ^ represents the key labeled Control—for example, the key combination ^D in a screen display means hold down the Control key while you press the D key.
< >	Nonprinting characters, such as passwords, are in angle brackets.
[ ]	Default responses to system prompts are in square brackets.
!, #	An exclamation point ( ! ) or a pound sign ( # ) at the beginning of a line of code indicates a comment line.

Notes use the following conventions:

Note Means reader take note. Notes contain helpful suggestions or references to material not covered in the publication.

Timesavers use the following conventions:

TimeSaver Means the described action saves time. You can save time by performing the action described in the paragraph.

Tips use the following conventions:

Tip Means the following are useful tips.

Cautions use the following conventions:

Caution Means reader be careful. In this situation, you might do something that could result in equipment damage or loss of data.

Obtaining Documentation

The following sections provide sources for obtaining documentation from Cisco Systems.

World Wide Web

You can access the most current Cisco documentation on the World Wide Web at the following sites:

Documentation CD-ROM

Cisco documentation and additional literature are available in a CD-ROM package, which ships with your product. The Documentation CD-ROM is updated monthly and may be more current than printed documentation. The CD-ROM package is available as a single unit or as an annual subscription.

Ordering Documentation

Cisco documentation is available in the following ways:

Registered Cisco Direct Customers can order Cisco Product documentation from the Networking Products MarketPlace:

http://www.cisco.com/public/ordsum.html

Registered Cisco.com users can order the Documentation CD-ROM through the online Subscription Store:

http://www.cisco.com/go/subscription

Nonregistered Cisco.com users can order documentation through a local account representative by calling Cisco corporate headquarters (California, USA) at 408 526-7208 or, in North America, by calling 800 553-NETS(6387).

Documentation Feedback

If you are reading Cisco product documentation on the World Wide Web, you can submit technical comments electronically. Click Feedback in the toolbar and select Documentation. After you complete the form, click Submit to send it to Cisco.

You can e-mail your comments to bug-doc@cisco.com.

To submit your comments by mail, use the response card behind the front cover of your document, or write to the following address:

Attn. Document Resource Connection
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We appreciate your comments.

Obtaining Technical Assistance

Cisco provides Cisco.com as a starting point for all technical assistance. Customers and partners can obtain documentation, troubleshooting tips, and sample configurations from online tools. For Cisco.com registered users, additional troubleshooting tools are available from the TAC website.

Cisco.com

Cisco.com is the foundation of a suite of interactive, networked services that provides immediate, open access to Cisco information and resources at anytime, from anywhere in the world. This highly integrated Internet application is a powerful, easy-to-use tool for doing business with Cisco.

Cisco.com provides a broad range of features and services to help customers and partners streamline business processes and improve productivity. Through Cisco.com, you can find information about Cisco and our networking solutions, services, and programs. In addition, you can resolve technical issues with online technical support, download and test software packages, and order Cisco learning materials and merchandise. Valuable online skill assessment, training, and certification programs are also available.

Customers and partners can self-register on Cisco.com to obtain additional personalized information and services. Registered users can order products, check on the status of an order, access technical support, and view benefits specific to their relationships with Cisco.

To access Cisco.com, go to the following website:

http://www.cisco.com

Technical Assistance Center

The Cisco TAC website is available to all customers who need technical assistance with a Cisco product or technology that is under warranty or covered by a maintenance contract.

Contacting TAC by Using the Cisco TAC Website

If you have a priority level 3 (P3) or priority level 4 (P4) problem, contact TAC by going to the TAC website:

http://www.cisco.com/tac

P3 and P4 level problems are defined as follows:

P3—Your network performance is degraded. Network functionality is noticeably impaired, but most business operations continue.
P4—You need information or assistance on Cisco product capabilities, product installation, or basic product configuration.

In each of the above cases, use the Cisco TAC website to quickly find answers to your questions.

To register for Cisco.com, go to the following website:

http://www.cisco.com/register/

If you cannot resolve your technical issue by using the TAC online resources, Cisco.com registered users can open a case online by using the TAC Case Open tool at the following website:

http://www.cisco.com/tac/caseopen

Contacting TAC by Telephone

If you have a priority level 1(P1) or priority level 2 (P2) problem, contact TAC by telephone and immediately open a case. To obtain a directory of toll-free numbers for your country, go to the following website:

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/687/Directory/DirTAC.shtml

P1 and P2 level problems are defined as follows:

P1—Your production network is down, causing a critical impact to business operations if service is not restored quickly. No workaround is available.
P2—Your production network is severely degraded, affecting significant aspects of your business operations. No workaround is available.

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