Gigabit Ethernet Combo Ports WAN

This section contains the following topics:

Gigabit ethernet combo ports WAN

A Gigabit Ethernet combo port is a dual-connectivity interface that

  • combines both copper RJ45 and fiber SFP connectivity options in paired ports

  • allows only one port in each pair to be active at any given time, and

  • automatically selects the first port that establishes a valid link as the active connection.

ESR6300 combo port specifications

Two combo ports are available on the ESR6300 with interface names g0/0/0 and g0/0/1. The copper ports support standard 3-speed, 10/100/1000Base-T protocol. The SFP supports standard 1000Base-X or 100Base-FX Ethernet over single-mode or multi-mode optics. A complete list of the supported SFPs can be found in the ESR6300 Hardware Technical Manual: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/routers/embedded/6300/hardware/tech-guide/ESR6300-tech-guide.html.


Note
The GLC-T and GLC-TE are the only copper SFPs supported by Cisco, and the service unsupported-transceiver CLI must be manditorily enabled if they are used.

Configuration considerations include these requirements:

  • Copper FE SFPs are not supported on ESR6300

  • Auto-negotiation for 10Mbps, 100Mbps, 1000Mbps in full-duplex and half-duplex mode is supported. For half duplex, support is only on 10Mbps and 100Mbps.

  • Auto-select is supported. Whichever interface is detected first is selected. Typically fiber SFP bring-UP is faster than RJ45 Copper is faster than Copper SFP.

  • All Standard Cisco Layer 3 Routing Protocols are Supported on ESR6300 WAN interfaces.

  • If running IOS-XE version 17.1.x and below, Jumbo MTU support is not available on the ESR6300. MTU >1500 packets will be fragmented. If running IOS-XE release 17.2.1 and above, MTU support is 64 - 9216 on the interface. If there are bursts of fragmented traffic expected beyond the device Non-drop rate capability, IOS-XE implements a throttling mechanism and transmits MAC pause frames to other end to reduce rate of traffic. To resume normal operation, ARP has to be sent again to re-negotiate. The default ip ARP timeout is 14,000 seconds. In such corner case scenarios, it is recommended to have a much shorter ARP timeout configuration.

  • Auto-select is supported. Whichever interface is detected first is selected. Typically, fiber SFP bring-UP is faster than RJ45 Copper, which is faster than Copper SFP.

  • Auto-failover is supported as well between like GE Ethernet and GE SFP. In case one physical link goes DOWN, the other mode will immediately kick-in.

  • RJ45 to SFP mode conversion involves an interface reset (shut/no shut, interface DOWN/UP). The syslog can be observed accordingly.


Note
For ARP, you must configure Ethernet II frames instead of 802.3 frames. If 802.3 frames are used, they may be recorded as SNAP encapsulation, which is currently not supported.

Configure the WAN port media type

Use this task to configure a WAN port as RJ45 or SFP using the command line interface and to verify the configuration. Configuring WAN port media types optimizes network connectivity and enables failover capabilities between RJ45 and SFP connections.

WAN ports can be configured to use either RJ45 or SFP connectors, with auto-failover capabilities available. The system supports auto-selection of the attached connector type or manual configuration of specific media types.

Procedure

Step 1

Use the configure terminal command to enter the global configuration mode.

Example:

Router# config terminal

Step 2

Use the interface type g0/0/{0|1} command to select the WAN interface.

Example:

Router(config)# interface g0/0/{0|1}

Step 3

Use the media-type type command to set the media type. The following options are available:

Example:

Router(config-if)# media-type ?
auto-select  Use whichever connector is attached
rj45         Use RJ45 connector
sfp          Use SFP connector

Step 4

(Optional) Use the media-type {rj45|sfp} auto-failover command to configure auto-failover.

Example:

Router(config-if)# media-type {rj45|sfp} ?
auto-failover  Automatic Fail over

Step 5

Use these steps to change the media type to SFP:

  1. Use the interface type g 0/0/0 command to select the interface.

    Example:

    Router# conf t
Router(config)# int g 0/0/0

  2. Use the no shutdown command to enable the interface.

    Example:

    Router(config-if)# no shut

  3. Use the media-type sfp command to change the media type to SFP.

    Example:

    Router(config-if)# media-type sfp
GigabitEthernet0/0/0: Changing media to SFP
Router(config-if)# end

Step 6

Use the show inventory command to verify that the SFP is detected.

Example:

Router# show inventory

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
INFO: Please use "show license UDI" to get serial number for licensing.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NAME: "Chassis", DESCR: "Embedded Services Router with 2 Gigabit Ethernet routed ports,4 Gigabit Ethernet switched ports, no cooling plate"
PID: ESR-6300-NCP-K9 , VID: V00 , SN: FOC23032UUN

NAME: "Power Supply Module 0", DESCR: "External Power Supply Module"
PID: PWR-12V , VID: , SN:

NAME: "module 0", DESCR: "Cisco ESR-6300-NCP-K9 Fixed and pluggable Interface Module controller"
PID: ESR-6300-NCP-K9 , VID: , SN:

NAME: "NIM subslot 0/1", DESCR: "ESR-6300-ES-4"
PID: ESR-6300-ES-4 , VID: V01 , SN:

NAME: "NIM subslot 0/0", DESCR: "Front Panel 2 port Gigabitethernet Module"
PID: ESR-6300-2x1GE , VID: V01 , SN:

NAME: "module R0", DESCR: "Cisco ESR-6300-NCP-K9 Route Processor"
PID: ESR-6300-NCP-K9 , VID: V00 , SN: FOC23032UUN

NAME: "module F0", DESCR: "Cisco ESR-6300-NCP-K9 Forwarding Processor"
PID: ESR-6300-NCP-K9 , VID: , SN:

Step 7

Verify that the configuration has taken effect by reapplying the media-type configuration on the interface.

Example:

Router# conf t
Router(config)# int g 0/0/0
Router(config-if)# no shut
Router(config-if)# media-type sfp
GigabitEthernet0/0/0: Changing media to SFP
Router(config-if)# end

Step 8

(Optional) Use the hw-module subslot 0/0 reload force command to reload the Gigabit Ethernet module if necessary.

Example:

Router# hw-module subslot 0/0 reload force

The WAN port is successfully configured with the specified media type. The system displays confirmation messages when changing media types, and the configuration can be verified using inventory and interface commands.