Cisco NM module/functionality/compatability

[sts6matt3109]

Hello all,

I feel a slight bit intimidated by posting here with a question that may sound a bit unsual, especially given the fact that most of the people here have much superior knowledge than I do.

Here is my question.

I have a 3745 router.

I want to add the functionality of gigabit ethernet to the router.

I have a NM-ESW-16  16 port expansion module in the router now.

I have ordered the GE-DCARD-ESW daughterboard for the NM-ESW-16 that gives the NM-ESW-16 module 1 gigabit port.

I also have a 3750G gigabit switch.  The router is set up as a Router-on-a-stick configuration with VLAN/Sub interface configurations.

I am wondering if the GE-DCARD-ESW will allow for a gigabit connection to the gigabit 3750 switch so that I may be able to have gigabit data transfer speeds to the router so that routing to the sub interfaces may take place faster.  I guess I am trying to say that I would like to be able to eleminate the 100MB/s bottleneck in my network.  I read somewhere that milticast and a few other features were not supported on router ios versions 15.x and up.  Luckly everything I have router wise is running on 12.4.

I hope that someone can aswer this question, and I am guessing that I would remove the current cat5 cable from my int0/1 that goes to the switch and place that cable into the new gig port and configure that interface as I have my old int0/1 configured with all the vlan/sub interface confgurations and then shut the int 0/1interface as I would no longer be using it.  am I right?

This is a home cisco lab that I have been working on for quite a while.  I am just trying to see what kind of limitations are out there and in the future be able to offer different solutions to people that may be looking for future upgrades.

[acampbell]

Michael,

It looks like if you are running at least IOS 12.2.15 you could now use the ESW port as a routed port However the bad news is that it does not support sub-interfaces

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/ios/12_2/12_2z/12_2zj/feature/guide/fz1636nm.html#wp1819691

Routed Ports

A routed port is a physical port that acts like a port on a router; it does not have to be connected to a router. A routed port is not associated with a particular VLAN, as is an access port. A routed port behaves like a regular router interface, except that it does not support subinterfaces. Routed ports can be configured with a Layer 3 routing protocol.

You have 2 options.

1)Config your ESW port as a 802.1Q trunk

Create SVI interfaces for each of your VLANS very similar to 3750 config.

2) Instead of LAYER 2 use a LAYER 3 Routd port at both the 3745 (ESW PORT) and the same on your 3750

interface /x/x/x

no switchport

ip address a.b.c.d m.m.m.m

Change you thinking and IP route all the traffic btween the router and switch

HTH

Alex

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