Re: Cat 4000 WS-X4232-L3

JANE FRYBARGER · ‎10-05-2004

We have a site with a Cisco Cat 4006 with a WS-X4232-L3 in slot 2. An HP switch is connected to Gig 1 and a file server is connected to port Gig 2 (in other words, an HP switch is is physically connected to the Gig 1 port on the front of the WS-X4232-L3 and a file server is physically connected to the Gig 2 port on the front of the WS-X4232-L3). The L3 config is:

interface GigabitEthernet1

description << VLAN 123 OR008-FBM-S04 >>

ip address nnn.nnn.89.65 255.255.255.192

ip helper-address nnn.nnn.10.116

no ip redirects

no ip directed-broadcast

ipx network nnnn940

!

interface GigabitEthernet2

description <<<< VLAN 108 MiscHosts >>>>

ip address nnn.nnn.89.225 255.255.255.248

no ip redirects

no ip directed-broadcast

ipx network nnnn59E0

interface GigabitEthernet3 is used for intervlan routing of VLANs.

interface GigabitEthernet4 is blank.

Let L2 config is:

#module 2 : 34-port Router Switch Card

set port name 2/1 ->OR008-FBM-S04

set port name 2/2 ->TIG-FS01

set udld enable 2/1

set trunk 2/1 on dot1q 1-1005

set trunk 2/2 off dot1q 1-1005

set port channel 2/2 mode off

!

My question is: From what I have read about the use of the WS-X4232-L3, this config seems fishy to me, but I can't quite explain why. If we had an WS-X4418 (Gig port L2 card) we'd have used it, but we didn't so the engineer was forced to use the ports on the WS-X4232-L3 to connect the server and switch.

The card is very confusing and I'm concerned that we have not deployed it correctlty. There have been performance issues at the site as well.

tmoreo · ‎10-05-2004

I had a similar run in with that module a few years ago. Fortunately we had a Gig blade. Although we did go through the pain process anyway.

Here is a doc that may help.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps663/products_tech_note09186a0080094959.shtml

If you could post more of the config such as what vlans exist on both the switch and router that would help.

If you have a visio with IP info, it would be good but not necessary.

Are there any errors on the interfaces?

On a side note I might use Gig4 with Gig3 for better performance. Also I might turn off channeling on 2/1 if you are not using it.

Prashanth Krishnappa · ‎10-06-2004

There are 2 ways to use the WS-X4232-L3 module's external uplink ports which are routed ports.

1. use the external L3 GE as a L3 interface. Configure an ip address on it so you can route between it (either interface G1 or G2 in this case) and the internal GEs (i.e. G3 and G4) or port-channel interface (bundling G3/G4) of the 4232-l3.

2. use the external L3 GE as a L2 interface. This requires bridging. (note: IRB/CRB are not supported on 4232-l3). Create a bridge group. assign the external L3 GE to the bridge group. assign the internal GE (or its sub-interface), or port-channel interface/subinterface to the bridge-group. As you can see, the down-side on this configuration is that the 4232-l3 can not be used to route for this particular bridge/vlan.