WIC-4ESW as WAN

[snooter]

I currently have a 1751 acting as our main gateway. At the moment it has two WIC-T1 cards, multi-interfaced.

Now, we're doing away with our 2xT1 for a 10MB fiber link. The fiber will be terminated and delivered to our equipment via the standard RJ-45. So, that's why I'm looking to get the WIC-4ESW since I'll need another port on our 1751 to terminate the connection to the fiber.

I've never used a WIC-4ESW, or anything of the sort to add more Ethernet ports to a router. My intentions are to use one of the four ports on this card as the link to our WAN. So, it'll have a private IP assigned to it. Even though it's an addon module, I can still assign an IP address to each port on it right?

Second question, I read a few posts online, and that beings this card is a layer 3 device, that I can't expect it to run at a 10MB level even though it's a 10/100MB link because of the routers processor. Is this correct? Should I be looking at something else instead of this four port card for terminating a high-speed WAN connection?

[Collin Clark · Accepted solution]

The 1751's max throughput is 6.14Mbps (CEF), so you'll probably want to look at a larger router. The 1800 series should work well in your case. If you add an HWIC-4ESW, the ports are strictly layer 2 ports! You create VLANs in the router and assign the port to the VLAN. You now have another interface albeit virtual.

Hope that helps.

[snooter]

Wow, that's good to know! I wasn't aware that the 1751's max was 6.14MB. So, if I go with a 1841 http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=698140 - that'll allow us to get up to 10MB you say?

Collin, where did you find that 6.14 Mbps (CEF) info at? I'm trying to find it..

[Joseph W. Doherty · Accepted solution]

He might have gotten it from this reference.

[kwillacey]

Did not even now that was available, it will definitely save time looking through data sheets, thanks.

[Collin Clark]

That is where i got it.