Catalyst 4500 as Layer 2 Switch but with VRF

[DenyAnyAny]

Hi,

is it possible to run a Catalyst 4500 as pure Layer 2 Switch, i.e. disabling "ip routing", but still managing the switch via Fa1, i.e. the defautl mgmtVrf vrf ?

I tried the following:

!

no ip routing

!

interface FastEthernet1

ip vrf forwarding mgmtVrf

ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0

!

ip route vrf mgmtVrf 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.254

ip default-gateway 192.168.1.254

I was not able to reach the Switch even from the same subnet. Only after enabling ip routing I could manage the Switch. I haven't found any command to set ip default-gateway for a vrf. Any workaround to keep routing disabled, but still manageable via VRF?

Regards

[p.mcgowan]

if you want to run a VRF you must have IP routing enabled

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst4500/12.2/15.02SG/configuration/guide/vrf.html#wp1045301

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[DenyAnyAny]

yes but I don't need it for the "default" VRF!

[p.mcgowan]

a VRF is essentially a routing function, it allows you to have multiple instances of a routing table.

you cannot have a routing table if you do not have routing enabled

you can disable routing and still manage the switch using a VLAN SVI interface.  what you have tried to do is enable a layer 3 interface but not have any layer 3 functions enabled.

you could use the follwoing config;

no ip routing

!

vlan 10

!

interface vlan 10

ip address 192.168.1.1 255.255.255.0

!

inteface FastEthernet1/1

no ip address

switchport

switchport access vlan 10

switchport mode access

!

you will then be able to manage the switch via VLAN 10 in the same way you would be able to manage any other Layer 2 switch without the need for a VRF

If you want or need to use a VRF then you will have to enable IP routing

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