Configure ACE in Routed Mode with L7 Policies

This document provides a sample configuration for the Application Control Module (ACE) configured in routed mode with Layer 7 (L7) policies. The ACE makes a load balancing decision based on specific content in the URL.

This sample uses two contexts:

The Admin context is used for remote management and Fault Tolerant (FT) configuration.
The C1 context is used for load balancing.

Prerequisites

Requirements

There are no specific requirements for this document.

Components Used

This document is not restricted to specific software and hardware versions.

The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, make sure that you understand the potential impact of any command.

Conventions

Refer to the Cisco Technical Tips Conventions for more information on document conventions.

Configure

In this section, you are presented with the information to configure the features described in this document.

Note: Use the Command Lookup Tool (registered customers only) to obtain more information on the commands used in this section.

Network Diagram

This document uses this network setup:

Configurations

This document uses these configurations:

Catalyst 6500—ACE slot 2 C1 context
Catalyst 6500—ACE slot 2 Admin context
Catalyst 6500—MSFC configuration

ACE C1 Context
switch/C1#show running-config Generating configuration.... access-list any line 8 extended permit icmp any any access-list any line 16 extended permit ip any any !--- Access-list to permit or deny traffic from entering the ACE. probe http WEB_SERVERS interval 5 passdetect interval 10 passdetect count 2 request method get url /index.html expect status 200 200 !--- http probe used to detect the status of the web servers. rserver host S1 ip address 192.168.0.200 inservice rserver host S2 ip address 192.168.0.201 inservice rserver host S3 ip address 192.168.0.202 inservice rserver host S4 ip address 192.168.0.203 inservice serverfarm host SF-1 probe WEB_SERVERS rserver S1 inservice rserver S2 inservice rserver S3 inservice rserver S4 inservice !--- Serverfarm used for traffic that matches the default class-map. !--- Client traffic that does not match “/abc” or “/xyz” !--- uses this serverfarm. serverfarm host SF-ABC probe WEB_SERVERS rserver S1 inservice rserver S2 inservice !--- Serverfarm used to match traffic for /abc content.* serverfarm host SF-XYZ probe WEB_SERVERS rserver S3 inservice rserver S4 inservice !--- Serverfarm used to match traffic for /xyz content.* class-map match-all L4VIPCLASS 2 match virtual-address 172.16.0.15 tcp eq www !--- Layer 4 class-map that defines the IP address and port. class-map type http loadbalance match-all L7CLASS-ABC 2 match http url /abc/* class-map type http loadbalance match-all L7CLASS-XYZ 2 match http url /xyz/* !--- Layer 7 class-map that defines specific content !--- on which to parse. class-map type management match-any REMOTE_ACCESS 2 match protocol ssh any 3 match protocol telnet any 4 match protocol icmp any 5 match protocol snmp any 6 match protocol http any !--- Remote management class-map that defines !--- what protocols can manage the ACE. policy-map type management first-match REMOTE_MGMT_ALLOW_POLICY class REMOTE_ACCESS permit policy-map type loadbalance http first-match WEB_L7_POLICY class L7CLASS-ABC serverfarm SF-ABC class L7CLASS-XYZ serverfarm SF-XYZ class class-default serverfarm SF-1 !--- Layer 7 policy-map that specifies serverfarms !--- for different layer 7 content. !--- class-default is used if the traffic does !--- not match any of the layer 7 class-maps. policy-map multi-match VIPs class L4VIPCLASS loadbalance vip inservice loadbalance policy WEB_L7_POLICY loadbalance vip icmp-reply active loadbalance vip advertise active !--- Multi-match policy ties the class-maps and policy-maps together. interface vlan 240 ip address 172.16.0.130 255.255.255.0 alias 172.16.0.128 255.255.255.0 peer ip address 172.16.0.131 255.255.255.0 access-group input any service-policy input REMOTE_MGMT_ALLOW_POLICY service-policy input VIPs no shutdown !--- Client side VLAN. This is the VLAN clients enter the ACE. !--- Apply access-lists and policies that are needed on this interface. interface vlan 511 ip address 192.168.0.130 255.255.255.0 alias 192.168.0.128 255.255.255.0 peer ip address 192.168.0.131 255.255.255.0 no shutdown !--- Server side VLAN. !--- Alias is used for the servers default gateway. ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 172.16.0.1 !--- Default gateway points to the MSFC. switch/C1#

ACE C1 Context

switch/C1#show running-config
Generating configuration....




access-list any line 8 extended permit icmp any any 
access-list any line 16 extended permit ip any any 



!--- Access-list to permit or deny traffic from entering the ACE.
 


probe http WEB_SERVERS
  interval 5
  passdetect interval 10
  passdetect count 2
  request method get url /index.html
  expect status 200 200



!--- http probe used to detect the status of the web servers.



rserver host S1
  ip address 192.168.0.200
  inservice
rserver host S2
  ip address 192.168.0.201
  inservice
rserver host S3
  ip address 192.168.0.202
  inservice
rserver host S4
  ip address 192.168.0.203
  inservice

serverfarm host SF-1
  probe WEB_SERVERS
  rserver S1
    inservice
  rserver S2
    inservice
  rserver S3
    inservice
  rserver S4
    inservice


 !--- Serverfarm used for traffic that matches the default class-map. !--- Client traffic that does not match “/abc*” or “/xyz*” !--- uses this serverfarm.



serverfarm host SF-ABC
  probe WEB_SERVERS
  rserver S1
    inservice
  rserver S2
    inservice



!--- Serverfarm used to match traffic for /abc* content.



serverfarm host SF-XYZ
  probe WEB_SERVERS
  rserver S3
    inservice
  rserver S4
    inservice



!--- Serverfarm used to match traffic for /xyz* content.



class-map match-all L4VIPCLASS
  2 match virtual-address 172.16.0.15 tcp eq www



!--- Layer 4 class-map that defines the IP address and port.



class-map type http loadbalance match-all L7CLASS-ABC
  2 match http url /abc/*
class-map type http loadbalance match-all L7CLASS-XYZ
  2 match http url /xyz/*



!--- Layer 7 class-map that defines specific content !--- on which to parse.



class-map type management match-any REMOTE_ACCESS
  2 match protocol ssh any
  3 match protocol telnet any
  4 match protocol icmp any
  5 match protocol snmp any
  6 match protocol http any



!--- Remote management class-map that defines !--- what protocols can manage the ACE.



policy-map type management first-match REMOTE_MGMT_ALLOW_POLICY
  class REMOTE_ACCESS
    permit

policy-map type loadbalance http first-match WEB_L7_POLICY
  class L7CLASS-ABC
    serverfarm SF-ABC
  class L7CLASS-XYZ
    serverfarm SF-XYZ
  class class-default
    serverfarm SF-1


!--- Layer 7 policy-map that specifies serverfarms !--- for different layer 7 content. !--- class-default is used if the traffic does !--- not match any of the layer 7 class-maps.



policy-map multi-match VIPs
  class L4VIPCLASS
    loadbalance vip inservice
    loadbalance policy WEB_L7_POLICY
    loadbalance vip icmp-reply active
    loadbalance vip advertise active



!--- Multi-match policy ties the class-maps and policy-maps together.



interface vlan 240
  ip address 172.16.0.130 255.255.255.0
  alias 172.16.0.128 255.255.255.0
  peer ip address 172.16.0.131 255.255.255.0
  access-group input any
  service-policy input REMOTE_MGMT_ALLOW_POLICY
  service-policy input VIPs
  no shutdown


!--- Client side VLAN. This is the VLAN clients enter the ACE. !--- Apply access-lists and policies that are needed on this interface.



interface vlan 511
  ip address 192.168.0.130 255.255.255.0
  alias 192.168.0.128 255.255.255.0
  peer ip address 192.168.0.131 255.255.255.0
  no shutdown


 !--- Server side VLAN. !--- Alias is used for the servers default gateway.



ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 172.16.0.1



!--- Default gateway points to the MSFC.




switch/C1#

ACE Admin Context
switch/Admin#show running-config Generating configuration.... boot system image:c6ace-t1k9-mz.A2_1_0a.bin resource-class RC1 limit-resource all minimum 50.00 maximum equal-to-min !--- Resource-class used to limit the amount of resources a specific context !--- can use. access-list any line 8 extended permit icmp any any access-list any line 16 extended permit ip any any rserver host test class-map type management match-any REMOTE_ACCESS 2 match protocol ssh any 3 match protocol telnet any 4 match protocol icmp any 5 match protocol snmp any 6 match protocol http any policy-map type management first-match REMOTE_MGMT_ALLOW_POLICY class REMOTE_ACCESS permit interface vlan 240 ip address 172.16.0.4 255.255.255.0 alias 172.16.0.10 255.255.255.0 peer ip address 172.16.0.5 255.255.255.0 access-group input any service-policy input REMOTE_MGMT_ALLOW_POLICY no shutdown interface vlan 511 ip address 192.168.0.4 255.255.255.0 alias 192.168.0.10 255.255.255.0 peer ip address 192.168.0.5 255.255.255.0 access-group input any no shutdown ft interface vlan 550 ip address 192.168.1.4 255.255.255.0 peer ip address 192.168.1.5 255.255.255.0 no shutdown !--- VLAN used for fault tolerant traffic. ft peer 1 heartbeat interval 300 heartbeat count 10 ft-interface vlan 550 !--- FT peer definition that defines heartbeat parameters and to associate !--- the FT VLAN. ft group 1 peer 1 peer priority 90 associate-context Admin inservice !--- FT group used for Admin context. ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 172.16.0.1 context C1 allocate-interface vlan 240 allocate-interface vlan 511 member RC1 !--- Allocate VLANs the C1 context uses. ft group 2 peer 1 no preempt associate-context C1 inservice !--- FT group used for the load balancing C1 context. username admin password 5 $1$faXJEFBj$TJR1Nx7sLPTi5BZ97v08c/ role Admin domai n default-domain username www password 5 $1$UZIiwUk7$QMVYN1JASaycabrHkhGcS/ role Admin domain default-domain switch/Admin#

ACE Admin Context

switch/Admin#show running-config
Generating configuration....



boot system image:c6ace-t1k9-mz.A2_1_0a.bin

resource-class RC1
  limit-resource all minimum 50.00 maximum equal-to-min



!--- Resource-class used to limit the amount of resources a specific context !--- can use.



access-list any line 8 extended permit icmp any any 
access-list any line 16 extended permit ip any any 


rserver host test

class-map type management match-any REMOTE_ACCESS
  2 match protocol ssh any
  3 match protocol telnet any
  4 match protocol icmp any
  5 match protocol snmp any
  6 match protocol http any


policy-map type management first-match REMOTE_MGMT_ALLOW_POLICY
  class REMOTE_ACCESS
    permit


interface vlan 240
  ip address 172.16.0.4 255.255.255.0
  alias 172.16.0.10 255.255.255.0
  peer ip address 172.16.0.5 255.255.255.0
  access-group input any
  service-policy input REMOTE_MGMT_ALLOW_POLICY
  no shutdown
interface vlan 511
  ip address 192.168.0.4 255.255.255.0
  alias 192.168.0.10 255.255.255.0
  peer ip address 192.168.0.5 255.255.255.0
  access-group input any
  no shutdown

ft interface vlan 550
  ip address 192.168.1.4 255.255.255.0
  peer ip address 192.168.1.5 255.255.255.0
  no shutdown



!--- VLAN used for fault tolerant traffic. 



ft peer 1
  heartbeat interval 300
  heartbeat count 10
  ft-interface vlan 550



!--- FT peer definition that defines heartbeat parameters and to associate !--- the FT VLAN.



ft group 1
  peer 1
  peer priority 90
  associate-context Admin
  inservice



!--- FT group used for Admin context.



ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 172.16.0.1

context C1
  allocate-interface vlan 240
  allocate-interface vlan 511
  member RC1



!--- Allocate VLANs the C1 context uses.


  
ft group 2
  peer 1
  no preempt
  associate-context C1
  inservice



!--- FT group used for the load balancing C1 context.



username admin password 5 $1$faXJEFBj$TJR1Nx7sLPTi5BZ97v08c/  role Admin domai
n default-domain 
username www password 5 $1$UZIiwUk7$QMVYN1JASaycabrHkhGcS/  role Admin domain 
default-domain 

switch/Admin#

Router config
!--- Only portions of the config relevant to the !--- ACE are displayed. sf-cat1-7606#show run Building configuration... !--- Output Omitted. svclc multiple-vlan-interfaces svclc module 2 vlan-group 2 svclc vlan-group 2 220,240,250,510,511,520,540,550 ! !--- Before the ACE can receive traffic from the supervisor engine !--- in the Catalyst 6500 or Cisco 6600 series router, you must create VLAN !--- groups on the supervisor engine, and then assign the groups to the ACE. !--- Add vlans to the vlan-group that are needed for ALL contexts on the ACE. interface Vlan240 description public-vip-172.16.0.x ip address 172.16.0.2 255.255.255.0 standby ip 172.16.0.1 standby priority 20 standby name ACE_slot2 ! !--- SVI (Switch Virtual Interface). The standby address is the default !--- gateway for the ACE. !--- Output Ommited. sf-cat1-7606#

Router config


!--- Only portions of the config relevant to the !--- ACE are displayed.


sf-cat1-7606#show run
Building configuration...


!--- Output Omitted.


svclc multiple-vlan-interfaces
svclc module 2 vlan-group 2
svclc vlan-group 2  220,240,250,510,511,520,540,550

!




!--- Before the ACE can receive traffic from the supervisor engine !--- in the Catalyst 6500 or Cisco 6600 series router, you must create VLAN !--- groups on the supervisor engine, and then assign the groups to the ACE. !--- Add vlans to the vlan-group that are needed for ALL contexts on the ACE.



interface Vlan240
 description public-vip-172.16.0.x 
 ip address 172.16.0.2 255.255.255.0
 standby ip 172.16.0.1
 standby priority 20
 standby name ACE_slot2

! !--- SVI (Switch Virtual Interface). The standby address is the default !--- gateway for the ACE. !--- Output Ommited.


sf-cat1-7606#

Verify

Use this section to confirm that your configuration works properly.

The Output Interpreter Tool (registered customers only) (OIT) supports certain show commands. Use the OIT to view an analysis of show command output.

Show serverfarm—Displays information about the serverfarm and the state of the rservers.

This example provides sample output:

switch/C1# show serverfarm SF-1
 serverfarm     : SF-1, type: HOST
 total rservers : 4

 ---------------------------------
                                                ----------connections---------
--
       real                  weight state        current    total      failure
s 
   ---+---------------------+------+------------+----------+----------+-------
--
   rserver: S1
       192.168.0.200:0       8      OPERATIONAL  0          57         0
   rserver: S2
       192.168.0.201:0       8      OPERATIONAL  0          57         0
   rserver: S3
       192.168.0.202:0       8      OPERATIONAL  0          56         0
   rserver: S4
       192.168.0.203:0       8      OPERATIONAL  0          56         0

Show service-policy name detail—Displays information about the multi-match policy that includes state of the VIP, hit count for layer 7 class-maps, and dropped connections.

This example provides sample output:

switch/C1#show service-policy VIPs detail 
-----------------------------------------
Interface: vlan 240 
  service-policy: VIPs
    class: L4VIPCLASS
     VIP Address:    Protocol:  Port:
     172.16.0.15     tcp        eq    80   
      loadbalance:
        L7 loadbalance policy: WEB_L7_POLICY
        VIP Route Metric     : 77
        VIP Route Advertise  : ENABLED-WHEN-ACTIVE
        VIP ICMP Reply       : ENABLED-WHEN-ACTIVE
        VIP State: INSERVICE


!--- VIP State: Inservice shows the policy is ready !--- to accept traffic. !--- There must be at least one rserver inservice for the policy !--- to show “Inservice”.


        curr conns       : 1         , hit count        : 233       
        dropped conns    : 0         
        client pkt count : 1202      , client byte count: 142327              
        server pkt count : 1213      , server byte count: 1206796             
        conn-rate-limit      : 0         , drop-count : 0         
        bandwidth-rate-limit : 0         , drop-count : 0         
        L7 Loadbalance policy : WEB_L7_POLICY
          class/match : L7CLASS-ABC
            LB action : 
               primary serverfarm: SF-ABC
                    state: UP
                backup serverfarm : -
            hit count        : 3         
            dropped conns    : 0  


 !--- Client traffic that matches the layer7 class-map matching /abc*

      
          class/match : L7CLASS-XYZ
            LB action : 
               primary serverfarm: SF-XYZ
                    state: UP
                backup serverfarm : -
            hit count        : 3         
            dropped conns    : 0  


 !--- Client traffic that matches the layer7 class-map matching /xyx*

      
          class/match : class-default
            LB action : 
               primary serverfarm: SF-1
                    state: UP
                backup serverfarm : -
            hit count        : 226       
            dropped conns    : 0  
    

!--- Client traffic that matches the default class-map.


switch/C1#

Show conn—Displays current connections on the ACE.

This example provides sample output:

switch/C1#show conn

total current connections : 2

conn-id    np dir proto vlan source                destination           state
----------+--+---+-----+----+---------------------+---------------------+-----
-+
11         2  in  TCP   240  172.16.1.10:2142    172.16.0.15:80        ESTAB
10         2  out TCP   511  192.168.0.203:80      172.16.1.10:2142    ESTAB
switch/C1#