Cisco Catalyst 5000 Series Switches

Table of Contents

Catalyst 5000 Series Route Switch Module
Channelized T1 Port Adapter
Installation and Configuration Note

Product Number: PA-2CT1/PRI(=)

This configuration note describes the installation and configuration of the channelized T1 Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) Primary Rate Interface (PRI) port adapter (PA-2CT1/PRI). The port adapter is used in the Catalyst VIP2-15 and VIP2-40 modules attached to the Route Switch Module (RSM) and used in the Catalyst 5000 series switches. This port adapter can also be used in the following:

Use this configuration note with the Route Switch Module Catalyst VIP2-15 and VIP2-40 Installation and Configuration Note (Document Number 78-4780-01), which shipped with your VIP2-15 and VIP2-40.

For complete descriptions of interface subcommands and the configuration options available for interfaces that support the 2CT1 port adapter functionality, refer to the publications listed in the "If You Need More Information" section.

Document Contents

This configuration note is organized into the following sections:

If You Need More Information

The Cisco IOS software that runs your router contains extensive features and functionality. For additional information on configuring the Catalyst VIP2 port adapter interfaces, refer to the following documentation:

Cisco Systems documentation and additional literature are available in a CD-ROM package, which ships with your product. The Documentation CD-ROM, a member of the Cisco Connection Family, is updated monthly. Therefore, it might be more up-to-date than printed documentation. To order additional copies of the Documentation CD-ROM, contact your local sales representative or call customer service. The CD-ROM package is available as a single package or through an annual subscription. You can also access Cisco documentation on the World Wide Web at http://www.cisco.com, http://www-china.cisco.com, or http://www-europe.cisco.com.

If you are reading Cisco product documentation on the World Wide Web, you can submit comments electronically. Click Feedback on the title bar, and then select Documentation. After you complete the form, click Submit to send it to Cisco. We appreciate your comments.

Port Adapter Installation Prerequisites

This section provides software and hardware requirements, a list of parts and tools you will need to perform the port adapter installation, and safety and electrostatic discharge (ESD)-prevention guidelines to help you avoid injury and damage to the equipment during installation. Also included is overview information on interface specifications.

Software and Hardware Requirements

The 2CT1 port adapters require that the host RSM runs Cisco IOS Release 11.2(9)P or later and that the supervisor engine runs Catalyst 5000 series supervisor engine software release 2.3(1) or later.

The specific Catalyst VIP2 model recommended for the 2CT1 port adapters is VIP2-40, which has 2 MB of SRAM and 32 MB of DRAM. The VIP2-40 supports two installed 2CT1 port adapters that are running ISDN PRI with distributed services or channelized T1 with distributed switching or distributed services. The VIP2-15, which has 1 MB of SRAM and 16 MB of DRAM, supports one installed 2CT1 port adapter that is running ISDN PRI or channelized T1 without distributed switching.

List of Parts and Tools

You need the following parts and tools to install a port adapter. If you need additional equipment, contact a service representative for ordering information.

Note The 2CT1 interfaces require shielded serial cables and connectors.

Safety Guidelines

Follow the safety guidelines in this section when working with any equipment that connects to electrical power or telephone wiring.

Electrical Equipment Guidelines

Follow these basic guidelines when working with any electrical equipment:

Telephone Wiring Guidelines

Use the following guidelines when working with any equipment that is connected to telephone wiring or to other network cabling:

Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage

ESD damage, which can occur when electronic cards or components are improperly handled, results in complete or intermittent failures. Port adapters and the Catalyst VIP2 comprise printed circuit boards that are fixed in metal carriers. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and connectors are integral components of the carrier. Although the metal carrier helps to protect the board from ESD, use a preventive antistatic strap during handling.

Follow these guidelines for preventing ESD damage:

What Is the 2CT1 Port Adapter?

The 2CT1 port adapter, shown in Figure 1, provides up to two channelized T1 ISDN PRI interfaces for connecting the Catalyst 5000 series switch Catalyst VIP2 to channel service units (CSUs). Each 2CT1 interface can transmit and receive data bidirectionally at the T1 rate of 1.544 megabits per second (Mbps).

Both 2CT1 interfaces connect to external networks through a single port that has a 15-pin, D-shell receptacle. Two standard shielded serial cables with shielded connectors, null-modem and straight-through, for use with the 2CT1 port adapter are available from other vendors.

When running channelized T1, each 2CT1 interface can provide up to 24 T1 channel groups, which are numbered from 0 to 23. Each channel group provides up to 24 64 kilobit per second (kbps) time slots (DS0 channels), which are numbered 1 to 24. Multiple DS0 channels can be mapped to a single channel group. Each channel group is presented to the system as a serial interface that can be configured individually. Usable bandwidth for each channel group is calculated as n x 64 kbps, where n is a number of DS0 channels (1 to 24).

When running ISDN PRI, each 2CT1 interface provides 23 bearer (B) channels that can transmit and receive data at the rate of 64 kbps, full duplex, and one data (D) channel that can transmit and receive data at the rate of 16 kbps, full duplex. The B channels are used for transmitting user data. The D channel is used for call setup control and network connection teardown, and provides the communication from the router to the ISDN switch. The B and D channels are presented to the system as serial interfaces that support High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC) and Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) encapsulation. The 2CT1 port adapter supports dial-on-demand routing (DDR) when running ISDN PRI.

Port Adapter Locations on the Catalyst VIP2

Figure 2 shows a Catalyst VIP2 with one installed port adapter and one port adapter blank. Port adapters have handles that allow for easy installation and removal. The left port adapter is in port adapter slot 0, and the port adapter blank is in port adapter slot 1.

2CT1 Port Adapter LEDs

The 2CT1 port adapter has an enabled LED, standard on all port adapters, and three status LEDs for each port. (See Figure 3.)

After system initialization, the enabled LED goes on to indicate that the port adapter has been enabled for operation.

The following conditions must be met before the 2CT1 port adapter is enabled:

If any of these conditions is not met, or if the initialization fails for other reasons, the enabled LED does not go on. Table 1 lists port LED status indications.

Table 1   2CT1 Port LED Indications

2CT1 Port Adapter Cables and Pinouts

Two standard shielded serial cables with shielded connectors, null modem and straight through, for the 2CT1 port adapter are available from other vendors. Both cables should have a 15-pin, D-shell (DB-15) connector at the Catalyst VIP2 and network ends. Figure 4 shows the required 2CT1 interface cable, connectors, and pinouts.

Table 2 lists connector pinouts for the 2CT1 null-modem cable, and Table 3 lists the connector pinouts for the 2CT1 straight-through cable.

Table 2   2CT1 Null-Modem

Interface Cable Pinouts

Table 3   2CT1 Straight-Through

Interface Cable Pinouts

Installing the 2CT1 Port Adapter

This section describes how to install the 2CT1 port adapter.

Installing or Replacing a Port Adapter in a Catalyst VIP2

Each port adapter circuit board is mounted to a metal carrier and is sensitive to ESD damage. The following procedures should be performed by a Cisco-certified service provider only. Although the RSM/VIP2 combination supports OIR, individual port adapters do not. To replace port adapters, you must first remove the RSM/VIP2 from the chassis, and then install or replace port adapters, as required. If a blank port adapter is installed in the Catalyst VIP2 in which you want to install a new port adapter, you must first remove the RSM/VIP2 from the chassis, and then remove the blank port adapter.

When only one port adapter is installed in a Catalyst VIP2, a blank port adapter must fill the empty slot to allow the Catalyst VIP2 and switch chassis to conform to electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions requirements, and to permit proper airflow through the chassis. If you plan to install a new port adapter, you must first remove the blank port adapter.

Follow this procedure to remove and replace any type of port adapter on the Catalyst VIP2:

Step 2   For a new port adapter installation or a port adapter replacement, first disconnect any interface cables from the ports on the front of the port adapter.

Step 3   To remove the RSM/VIP2 combination from the chassis, follow the steps in the "RSM and Catalyst VIP2 Installation" section in the Route Switch Module Catalyst VIP2-15 and VIP2-40 Installation and Configuration Note (Document Number 78-4780-01), which shipped with your Catalyst VIP2.

Step 4   Place the removed RSM/VIP2 on an antistatic mat.

Step 5   Locate the screw at the rear of the port adapter (or blank port adapter) to be replaced. (See Figure 5.) This screw secures the port adapter (or blank port adapter) to its slot.

Step 6   Remove the screw that secures the port adapter (or blank port adapter).

Step 7   With the screw removed, grasp the handle on the front of the port adapter (or blank port adapter) and carefully pull it out of its slot, away from the edge connector at the rear of the slot. (See Figure 6.)

Step 8   If you removed a port adapter, place it in an antistatic container for safe storage or shipment back to the factory. If you removed a blank port adapter, no special handling is required; store the blank port adapter for potential future use.

Step 9   Remove the new port adapter from its antistatic container and position it at the opening of the slot. (See Figure 7.)

Step 10   Before you insert the new port adapter in its slot, verify that the port adapter carrier is between the upper and lower slot edges, as shown in Figure 8. Do not jam the carrier between the slot edges.

Step 11   Carefully slide the new port adapter into the port adapter slot until the connector on the port adapter completely mates with the connector on the motherboard.

Step 12   Install the screw in the rear of the port adapter slot (see Figure 5 for its location). Do not overtighten this screw.

Step 13   To replace the RSM/VIP2 combination in the chassis, follow the steps in the "RSM and Catalyst VIP2 Installation" section in the Route Switch Module Catalyst VIP2-15 and VIP2-40 Installation and Configuration Note (Document Number 78-4780-01), which shipped with your Catalyst VIP2.

Step 14   Reconnect the interface cables to the port adapter ports.

This completes the procedure for installing a new port adapter or replacing a port adapter in a Catalyst VIP2.

Attaching a 2CT1 Interface Cable

Note The 2CT1 interfaces require shielded serial cables and connectors.

On a single 2CT1 port adapter, you can use up to two serial connections.

Connect a 2CT1 interface cable, as follows:

Step 2   Attach the network end of the cable to your PRI CSU and tighten the strain-relief screws.

This completes the procedure for attaching a 2CT1 interface cable.

Configuring the Port Adapter Interfaces

Using the EXEC Command Interpreter

You can modify the configuration of your router through the EXEC software command interpreter. You must enter the privileged level of the EXEC command interpreter with the enable command before you can use the configure command to configure a new interface or to change the existing configuration of an interface. The system prompts you for a password if one has been set.

The system prompt for the privileged level ends with a pound sign (#) instead of an angle bracket (>). At the console terminal, use the following procedure to enter the privileged level:

Step 2   Enter the password (the password is case-sensitive). For security purposes, the password is not displayed.

Step 3   When you enter the correct password, the system displays the privileged-level system prompt (#):

Configuring 2CT1 Interfaces

If you installed a new 2CT1-equipped Catalyst VIP2 or if you want to change the configuration of an existing interface, you must use the privileged-level configure command. If you replaced a 2CT1 port adapter that was previously configured, the system recognizes the new 2CT1 port adapter interfaces and brings each of them up in their existing configuration.

After you verify that the new 2CT1 port adapter is installed correctly (the enabled LED goes on), use the configure command to configure the new interfaces. You will need the following information:

Table 4   ISDN

Service Provider Switch Types

For complete descriptions of interface subcommands and the configuration options available for the Catalyst 5000 series Catalyst VIP2-related interfaces, refer to the publications listed in the "If You Need More Information" section on page 2.

Port Adapter Interface Port Numbering

In the RSM, physical port addresses specify the actual physical location of each interface port on the Catalyst VIP2. This physical location is identified by interface type/port adapter slot/interface port number.

On the Catalyst VIP2, the first port adapter slot number is always 0; the second port adapter slot number is always 1. The individual interface port numbers always begin with 0. The number of additional ports depends on the number of ports on a port adapter.

For example, on the 2CT1-equipped Catalyst VIP2, the addresses for the interface ports are 0/0 through 0/1 (port adapter slot 0 and interface ports 0 through 1). If the port adapter was in port adapter slot 1, these same interface ports would be numbered 1/0 through 1/1.

You can identify interface ports by physically checking the port adapter interface port location on the Catalyst VIP2 or by using the show interface command to display information about a specific interface or all interfaces in the router.

Shutting Down an Interface

Before you replace an interface cable, replace port adapters, or remove an interface that you will not replace, use the shutdown command to shut down (disable) the interfaces. Doing so prevents anomalies from occurring when you reinstall the new or reconfigured Catalyst VIP2. You can shut down all 24 interfaces of a controller by specifying the controller before issuing the shutdown command. You can shut down individual interfaces of a controller by specifying the channel group or PRI group assigned to each controller (channel groups and PRI groups are treated as serial interfaces by the system). When you shut down an interface, it is designated administratively down in the show command displays.

Follow these steps to shut down an interface:

Step 2   At the privileged-level prompt, enter Configuration mode and specify that the console terminal will be the source of the configuration subcommands, as follows:

Step 3   Specify the address of the controller that you want shut down by entering the subcommand controller, followed by the interface type (t1) and port adapter number/interface port number. The following example is for a 2CT1 in port adapter
slot 1:

Step 4   Enter the shutdown command, as follows:

Step 5   To shut down existing individual controller interfaces, enter the port:channel-group or PRI-group address of each interface followed by the shutdown command. When you have entered all the interfaces to be shut down, press CNTL/Z (hold down the Control key while you press Z) to exit Configuration mode and return to the EXEC command interpreter prompt, as follows:

Step 6   Write the new configuration to memory, as follows:

The system displays an OK message when the configuration has been stored.

Step 7   To verify that new interfaces are now in the correct state (shutdown), use the show interface serial port adapter number/interface port number:channel-group or pri-group command to display the specific interface, or use the show controller command, followed by the interface type (t1) and port adapter number/interface port number, to display the status of all interfaces of the controller.

Step 8   To reenable the interfaces, repeat the previous steps, but use the no shutdown command in Step 4; then write the new configuration to memory, as follows:

For complete descriptions of software configuration commands, refer to the publications listed in the "If You Need More Information" section on page 2.

Configuring Channelized T1 Interfaces

Instructions follow for a basic channelized T1 configuration: enabling a controller and specifying IP routing. You might also need to enter other configuration subcommands, depending on the requirements for your system configuration and the protocols you plan to route on the interface. For complete descriptions of configuration subcommands and the configuration options available, refer to the publications listed in the "If You Need More Information" section on page 2.

The channel groups must be mapped before the 2CT1 controller can be configured. The following controller commands are used to map the channel group (the default variable is listed first):

Number is the channel group 0 to 23.

Timeslots is a number between 1 to 24. You can enter time slots individually and separate them by commas or enter them as a range separated by a hyphen (for example, 1-3, 8, 9-18). Time slot 0 is an illegal configuration.

Speed specifies the DS0 speed of the channel group; 56 kbps is the default.

In the following procedure, press the Return key after each configuration step.

Step 2   At the prompt, specify the controller to configure by entering the subcommand cont, followed by t1 and port adapter number/interface port number. The example that follows is for the 2CT1 in port adapter slot 1, interface port 1:

Step 3   At the prompt, specify the clock source for the controller. The clock source command determines which end of the circuit provides the clocking signal.

Step 4   At the prompt, specify the framing type:

Step 5   At the prompt, specify the line code format:

Step 6   At the prompt, use the channel-group modification command to specify the channel group and time slots to be mapped. The following example shows channel group 0 and time slots 1, 3 through 5, and 7 selected for mapping.

Step 7   At the prompt, specify the interface serial type and port adapter number/interface port number:channel-group to modify:

Step 8   At the prompt, assign an IP address and subnet mask to the interface with the ip address configuration subcommand, as in the following example:

Step 9   Add any additional configuration subcommands required to enable routing protocols and adjust the interface characteristics.

Step 10   Use the no shutdown commands to reenable the interfaces. Refer to the "Shutting Down an Interface" section for no shutdown command examples.

Step 11   To complete the configuration, enter CNTL/Z (hold down the Control key while you press Z) to exit Configuration mode.

Step 12   Write the new configuration to memory, as follows:

The system displays an OK message when the configuration is stored.

Step 13   Exit the privileged level and return to the user level by entering disable at the prompt, as follows:

This completes the procedure for creating a basic channelized T1 configuration. Proceed to the "Checking the Configuration" section to check the interface configuration using show commands. For additional information about configuring channelized T1 interfaces, refer to the publications Wide-Area Networking Configuration Guide and Wide-Area Networking Command Reference.

Configuring Channelized T1 ISDN PRI Interfaces

Following are instructions for a basic channelized T1 ISDN PRI configuration: enabling a controller and specifying IP routing. You might also need to enter other configuration subcommands, depending on the requirements for your system configuration and the protocols you plan to route on the interface. For complete descriptions of configuration subcommands and the configuration options available, refer to the publications listed in the "If You Need More Information" section on page 2.

The PRI group must be mapped before the 2CT1 controller can be configured (there is only one PRI group for each controller). The following controller commands are used to map the PRI group:

Pri-group timeslots is a number between 1 to 24. (Time slots 1 to 23 represent the B channels, and time slot 24 represents the D channel. Although the numbering scheme for entering time slots is 1 to 24, the system recognizes the numbering of time slots as 0 to 23. The PRI group is configured by using time slot 24 [the D channel], which is recognized by the system as time slot 23.) You can enter time slots individually and separate them by commas or enter them as a range separated by a hyphen (for example, 1-3, 8, 9-18). The default DS0 speed of the PRI group is 56 kbps.

In the following procedure, press the Return key after each configuration step.

Step 2   Identify the ISDN switch type. In the following example, the switch primary-5ess (a switch for the United States) is identified as the switch type:

Step 3   At the prompt, specify the controller to configure by entering the subcommand cont, followed by t1 and port adapter number/interface port number. The following example is for the 2CT1 in port adapter slot 1, interface port 1:

Step 4   At the prompt, specify the clock source for the controller. The clock source command determines which end of the circuit provides the clocking signal.

Step 5   At the prompt, specify the framing type:

Step 6   At the prompt, specify the line code format:

Step 7   At the prompt, use the pri-group modification command to specify the time slots to map. The following example shows PRI-group time slots 1, 3 through 5, and 7 (the B channels) selected and mapped to time slot 24 (the D channel), which is recognized by the system as time slot 23.

Step 8   At the prompt, specify the interface type/port adapter number/interface port number:pri-group to modify (for channelized T1 ISDN PRI, the PRI group is configured using time slot 24, which is recognized by the system as time slot 23).

Step 9   If IP routing is enabled on the system, assign an IP address and subnet mask to the interface with the ip address configuration subcommand, as in the following example:

Step 10   Add any additional configuration subcommands required to enable routing protocols and adjust the interface characteristics.

Step 11   Use the no shutdown commands to reenable the interfaces. Refer to the "Shutting Down an Interface" section for no shutdown command examples.

Step 12   To complete the configuration, enter CNTL/Z (hold down the Control key while you press Z) to exit Configuration mode.

Step 13   Write the new configuration to memory, as follows:

The system displays an OK message when the configuration is stored.

Step 14   Exit the privileged level and return to the user level by entering disable at the prompt, as follows:

This completes the procedure for creating a basic channelized T1 ISDN PRI configuration. Proceed to the "Checking the Configuration" section to check the interface configuration using show commands. For dialer interface configuration and additional channelized T1 ISDN PRI interface configuration information, refer to the publications Wide-Area Networking Configuration Guide and Wide-Area Networking Command Reference.

Checking the Configuration

After configuring the new interface, use the show commands to display the status of the new interface or all interfaces and the ping and loopback commands to check connectivity.

Using show Commands to Verify the Catalyst VIP2 Status

The following steps use show commands to verify that the new interfaces are configured and operating correctly:

Step 2   Display the Catalyst VIP2 and its interfaces with the show controllers cbus command.

Note The slot values displayed by some commands (such as show diag and show cont cbus) are not relevant to any physical connection; please disregard these slot values.

Step 3   Specify one of the new T1 interfaces with the show interfaces interface type/port adapter slot/interface port number:channel-group or pri-group command and verify that the interface and line protocol are in the correct state: up or down.

Step 4   Display the protocols configured for the entire system and specific interfaces with the show protocols command. If necessary, return to Configuration mode to add or remove protocol routing on the system or specific interfaces.

Step 5   Display the running configuration file with the show running-config command. Display the configuration stored in NVRAM by using the show startup-config command. Verify that the configuration is accurate for the system and each interface.

If the interface is down and you configured it as up, or if the displays indicate that the hardware is not functioning properly, ensure that the network interface is properly connected and terminated. If you still have problems bringing up the interface, contact a customer service representative for assistance.

Using show Commands to Display Interface Information

To display information about a specific interface, use the show interfaces command with the interface type, port adapter slot, interface port number, and channel group or PRI group address in the format show interfaces (interface type/port adapter slot/interface port number:channel-group or pri-group).

The following example of the show interfaces serial port adapter slot/interface port number/channel-group command shows all the information specific to the first 2CT1 interface port (interface port 0) in port adapter slot 1, channel group 2:

The following example of the show interfaces serial port adapter slot/interface port number/pri-group command shows all the information specific to the same interface port (interface port 0 in port adapter slot 1) when the port is configured for ISDN PRI:

The show version (or show hardware) command displays the configuration of the system hardware, the software version, the names and sources of configuration files, and the boot images. An example of the show version command follows:

To display all the ISDN interfaces installed in the router and the ISDN switch types for the interfaces, use the show isdn status command. The following example is for a 2CT1 port adapter in port adapter slot 1 with the ISDN switch type primary-5ess:

To determine which type of port adapter is installed in the Catalyst VIP2, use the show diag command. Specific port adapter information is displayed, as shown in the following example:

Use the show controllers cbus [port adapter slot/interface port number] command to display the internal status of the Catalyst VIP2, including hardware versions, and the currently running microcode versions. The show controllers cbus command also lists each interface (port), including logical interface numbers, interface types, physical addresses and hardware (station address) of each interface, and cable types attached to each interface.

The following example shows a 2CT1 port adapter installed in port adapter slot 1:

Use the show controller t1 command to display the status of each installed T1 interface. The following example shows the status of a 2CT1 port adapter installed in port adapter slot 1, interface port 0:

Using the ping and loopback Commands

The ping and loopback commands allow you to verify that an interface port is functioning properly and to check the path between a specific port and connected devices at various locations on the network after the system has booted successfully and is operational. Refer to the publications listed in the "If You Need More Information" section on page 2 for detailed command descriptions and examples.

The ping command sends echo request packets to a remote device at an IP address that you specify. After sending an echo request, the command waits a specified time for the remote device to reply. Each echo reply is displayed as an exclamation point (!) on the console terminal; each request that is not returned before the specified timeout is displayed as a period (.). A series of exclamation points (!!!!!) indicates a good connection; a series of periods (.....) or the messages (timed out) or (failed) indicate that the connection failed.

An example of a successful ping command to a remote server with the address 1.1.1.10 follows:

If the connection fails, verify that you have the correct IP address for the destination and that the device is active (powered on), and repeat the ping command.

The loopback test allows you to detect and isolate equipment malfunctions by testing the connection between the 2CT1 port adapter interface and a remote device such as a modem or a CSU. The loopback subcommand places an interface in loopback mode, which enables test packets that are generated from the ping command to loop through a remote device or interface cable. If the packets complete the loop, the connection is good. If not, you can isolate a fault to the remote device or interface cable in the path of the loopback test.

When no interface cable is attached to a 2CT1 port adapter interface, issuing the loopback controller command tests the path between the Catalyst VIP2 and the interface port only (without leaving the Catalyst VIP2 and port adapter).

For complete descriptions of interface subcommands and the configuration options available for Catalyst VIP2 interfaces, refer to the publications listed in the "If You Need More Information" section on page 2.

Cisco Connection Online

Cisco Connection Online (CCO) is Cisco Systems' primary, real-time support channel. Maintenance customers and partners can self-register on CCO to obtain additional information and services.

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, CCO provides a wealth of standard and value-added services to Cisco's customers and business partners. CCO services include product information, product documentation, software updates, release notes, technical tips, the Bug Navigator, configuration notes, brochures, descriptions of service offerings, and download access to public and authorized files.

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:

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