Table of Contents

Route Switch Module

Route Switch Module

Catalyst 5000 family switches support the Route Switch Module (RSM) and the RSM/Versatile Interface Processor 2 (VIP2). This chapter describes the RSM and consists of these sections:

• Route Switch Module (WS-X5302)
  
  
• Route Switch Module/VIP2 Module
  
  

For detailed RSM installation and configuration information, refer to the Catalyst 5000 Family Route Switch Module Installation and Configuration Note and the Software Configuration Guide for your switch. For detailed RSM/VIP2 installation and configuration information, refer to the Route Switch Module Catalyst VIP2-15 and VIP2-40 Installation and Configuration Note.

Route Switch Module (WS-X5302)

The RSM is a router module running IOS router software that plugs directly into the Catalyst 5000 family switch backplane, providing multiprotocol routing for the Catalyst 5000 family Ethernet interfaces.

The RSM requires Catalyst 5000 family supervisor engine module software release 2.3(1) or later and IOS software release 11.2(7)P or later.

From the perspective of the Catalyst 5000 family switches, the RSM appears as a module with a single trunked port and one Media Access Control (MAC) address. From the perspective of the user, the RSM has one port. This port is unlike other Catalyst 5000 family module ports in that it has no external attributes, such as media type or speed.

The RSM front panel (Figure 7-1) has the following features:

• PCMCIA slots---The PCMCIA slots are for additional system Flash PC card memory. You can use this Flash PC card memory to store and run IOS images or as a file server for other routers to access as clients.
  
  
• Reset button---The Reset button causes a nonmaskable interrupt (NMI) and places the RSM in ROM monitor mode. (Use the Catalyst 5000 family switch reset command to reset the RSM hardware.)
  
  

• AUX and console ports---The AUX port allows you to connect to a modem for remote access to the RSM. The console port allows you to connect a terminal to the RSM for configuration and monitoring.
  
  

Figure 7-1: RSM (WS-X5302) Front Panel

The RSM LEDs are described in Table 7-1.

The RSM provides multiprotocol routing for the Catalyst 5000 family switch Ethernet interfaces. Table 7-2 lists the IOS features available for the RSM.

Route Switch Module/VIP2 Module

You can use the RSM as a standalone interVLAN router or you can enhance it by adding a Catalyst VIP2 module to provide direct external network connections through a variety of media with the same port adapters used on Cisco 7500 series routers. The RSM/VIP2 combination provides routing between Catalyst VIP2 port adapters and between VLANs and Catalyst VIP2 port adapters. The Catalyst VIP2 module supports any combination of available Catalyst VIP2 port adapter-based network interface types. When you use the RSM with the Catalyst VIP2 module, the combination is a double-wide module that occupies two contiguous slots in the chassis.

The Catalyst VIP2 module requires that the RSM runs IOS release 11.2(9)P or later, and that the supervisor engine runs Catalyst 5000 family software release 2.3(1) or later.

Figure 7-2 shows a Catalyst VIP2 module with a port adapter installed.

Configuration Options

The Catalyst VIP2 module uses a single motherboard with up to two port adapters. The Catalyst VIP2 port adapters provide WAN or LAN/WAN interface ports for the Catalyst 5000, Catalyst 5505, Catalyst 5509, and Catalyst 5500 switches. You can remove the RSM/VIP2 module combination from the switch chassis while power is on and the system is operating.

The current Catalyst VIP2 products have the following dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and static random-access memory (SRAM) configurations:

• Catalyst VIP2-15(=)---1 MB of SRAM and 16 MB of DRAM
  
  
• Catalyst VIP2-40(=)---2 MB of SRAM and 32 MB of DRAM
  
  

The Catalyst VIP2-15 upgrade option (Catalyst VIP215/40-UPG=) allows you to upgrade to 2-MB SRAM and 32-MB DRAM.

Software licenses are included to use Distributed Switching and Distributed Services.

Port Adapter Hardware

The port adapters attach to the Catalyst VIP2 motherboard. (See Figure 7-2.) Each port adapter contains the physical connections for the Catalyst VIP2 interface types to connect to your network. For the available electrical interface supported by the Catalyst VIP2 module, refer to the Cisco Products Catalog.

Caution Catalyst VIP2 modules with a single port adapter must have a blank port adapter installed to maintain compliance with electromagnetic interference (EMI) emissions standards and chassis airflow requirements. Each port adapter has one Phillips-head screw that secures it to its port adapter slot.

For detailed information on installing and configuring the RSM/VIP2 modules, refer to the Route Switch Module Catalyst VIP2-15 and VIP2-40 Installation and Configuration Note.