OSPF + router connectivity

[sridhar ch]

Hi,

Just want to the check adv and dis adv of connectivity between core swicth and router. I have 2 cisco 6509 swicthes acting as core and a 3845 as my MPLS router. I am running OSPF in LAN and BGP and doing a redistribution. I have connected the router to the core swicth in L2 mode i.e switch port access mode instead of L3 (routed port). what is the best way of connecting a router to a switch, access mode or routed mode?

Thanks,

Sridhar

[Peter Paluch]

Sridhar,

If there are just two devices on the subnet - the 3845 and the 6509, then having an access port as compared to a routed port is almost the same. In fact, creating a routed port internally allocates a separate hidden VLAN on the 6509. Still, I would personally choose the routed port. If nothing else, it is not being controlled by STP anymore, and it does not send Layer2 management protocol messages to the router that is incapable of processing them.

Best regards,

Peter