6509 with MSFC as Layer 2 switch

[thessick]

Our core network consists of two 6513's with dual sup 2's, msfc2's, SRM, HSRP.

I am adding a 6509 with dual sup1a's and msfc trunked at layer 2. MSFC's will not be active and have been returned to defaults.

Are there any special precautions regarding the msfc's when using the 6509 at layer 2 only? Any possibility of issues with existing HSRP running on the core? Can the msfc's be disabled entirely?

Thank You

Tom

[jdmckeever]

With no configuration on the MSFC (no vlan interfaces defined, routing protocol, etc.) you should have no issues introducing the 6509 as a L2 switch. I guess if you wanted to "disable" the MSFC, you could remove its IOS image - deleting the MSFC's bootflash - or wherever it boots its IOS from. Then it would come up in rommon mode. But that really shouldn't be necessary.