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
Cisco Connection Online
Documentation CD-ROM

Audience

This guide is written for people 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
Access control lists	Built-in support for ACLs on enhanced Gigabit Ethernet interfaces	"Overview of Layer 3 Switching and Software Features," in the "Access Control Lists" section
Load balancing	Up to six equal-cost paths for IP and IPX	"Overview of Layer 3 Switching and Software Features," in the "Load Balancing" section and "Configuring Networking Protocols"
Procedure for updating system image	Instructions added	"Configuring the Route Processor," in the "Updating the System Image" section
Enhanced Gigabit Ethernet interface module	New interface type added	"Configuring Interfaces," in the "About the Enhanced Gigabit Ethernet Interfaces (Catalyst 8540)" section
POS uplink interface module	New interface type added	"Configuring Interfaces," in the "About Packet over SONET (Catalyst 8540)" section
ATM uplink interface module	New interface type added	"Configuring Interfaces," in the "About ATM Uplinks (Catalyst 8540)" section
IS-IS routing protocol	Routing protocol support added	"Configuring Networking Protocols," in the "Configuring IP Routing Protocols" section
Switching database manager	Management of ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) for the enhanced Gigabit Ethernet interfaces	"Configuring Switching Database Manager," and in "Command Reference," in the "SDM Commands" section
Show commands for controller and switch counter	New commands added	"Command Reference," in the "Controller and Switch show Commands" section

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 Bridging	Describes how to configure transparent bridging for Ethernet, and Integrated Routing and Bridging (IRB).
Chapter 7	Configuring EtherChannel	Describes how to create the EtherChannel and assign individual interfaces to the EtherChannel.
Chapter 8	Configuring Quality of Service	Describes Layer 3 switching quality of service (QoS) features and provides information to help you fine tune QoS on your system.
Chapter 9	Configuring Switching Database Manager	Describes the switching database manager (SDM) features used for managing the ternary content addressable memory (TCAM).
Appendix A	Command Reference	Lists and describes commands unique to Layer 3 switching.
Appendix B	Cisco IOS Commands Not Supported in Layer 3 Switching Software	Lists the commands not supported in Layer 3 switching.
Appendix C	Configuration Examples	Provides examples of switch router configurations.
Appendix D	Using Technical Support	Lists information the Technical Assistance Center (TAC) requires to troubleshoot a problem, and tells you how to contact TAC.

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.

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CCO serves a wide variety of users through two interfaces that are updated and enhanced simultaneously: a character-based version and a multimedia version that resides on the World Wide Web (WWW). The character-based CCO supports Zmodem, Kermit, Xmodem, FTP, and Internet e-mail, and it is excellent for quick access to information over lower bandwidths. The WWW version of CCO provides richly formatted documents with photographs, figures, graphics, and video, as well as hyperlinks to related information.

You can access CCO in the following ways:

WWW: http://www.cisco.com
WWW: http://www-europe.cisco.com
WWW: http://www-china.cisco.com
Telnet: cco.cisco.com
Modem: From North America, 408 526-8070; from Europe, 33 1 64 46 40 82. Use the following terminal settings: VT100 emulation; databits: 8; parity: none; stop bits: 1; and connection rates up to 28.8 kbps.

For a copy of CCO's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), contact cco-help@cisco.com. For additional information, contact cco-team@cisco.com.

Note If you are a network administrator and need personal technical assistance with a Cisco product that is under warranty or covered by a maintenance contract, contact Cisco's Technical Assistance Center (TAC) at 800 553-2447, 408 526-7209, or tac@cisco.com. To obtain general information about Cisco Systems, Cisco products, or upgrades, contact 800 553-6387, 408 526-7208, or cs-rep@cisco.com.

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Table of Contents

Preface

Audience

New and Changed Information

Organization

Related Documentation

Related Catalyst 8540 and 8510 Campus Switch Router Documents

Related Catalyst 8540 Multiservice Switch Router Documents

Conventions

Cisco Connection Online

Documentation CD-ROM