topic Re: PIX Memory Upgrade? in Network Security

PIX Memory Upgrade?

bpalmersheim — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 07:28:18 GMT

I have a PIX506E with the default memory configuration of 32MB DRAM.

I have noticed the memory module on the system board, and there is a spare slot for additional memory next to it.

I have seen used PIX's out there with configurations of memory upto 256MB.

Although, according to Cisco the PIX's memory is: "Memory is not upgradeable"

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/vpndevc/ps2030/products_installation_guide_chapter09186a0080089856.html

This is the information I received after opening a TAC case to find out what the memory part number would be to upgrade the PIX.

The memory installation guide is for the older PIX's not the "E" (enhanced) versions.

Has anyone upgrade the RAM in their PIX without issue? If so what is the memory part number and the source to purchase?

Thank You!

Re: PIX Memory Upgrade?

gfullage — Mon, 21 Jun 2004 00:30:30 GMT

The memory on the 506 (and the 501) is not upgradable, primarily because there's no need to upgrade it. Why are you wanting to do this?

You won't have seen a used 506 with 256Meg memory, it's probably a higher-end 525 or 535. The 501/506 are fixed HW versions, you can probably stick another memory module in it but I doubt the PIX software will recognise or use it, and you will also lose any maintenance agreements you have on that unit.

Re: PIX Memory Upgrade?

bpalmersheim — Mon, 21 Jun 2004 00:37:02 GMT

There are several current PIX 506's on eBay that have a configuration of 64-256MB RAM. Here is a sample one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=73321&item=5704536456&rd=1

I want to upgrade the PIX for multiple VPN tunnels. My 1760VPN-K9 is fast, but seems like everything is being bottlenecked into the PIX.

This is a brand new PIX with a support contract, and I'm not interested in voiding the contract. If there is an additional memory bank on the board, it makes it appear it is upgradable.

Thanks!

Re: PIX Memory Upgrade?

mostiguy — Mon, 21 Jun 2004 12:51:03 GMT

That is either a scam, a bug, or someone has soldered it on.

Besides, the issue with encryption is CPU, not ram. A 506 is just a pentium 200, a 506e is a celeron 466. A 506e should thus have enough cpu horsepower to comfortable handle most situations up to its software limit of 25 concurrent ipsec tunnels.

How many tunnels are you running?