how many packets can be routed in SUP720-3BXL without help by PFC or dPFC?

[Sanghee Han]

hi all,

I wonder about the RP/SP performance in SUP720-3BXL.

as i know, SUP720-3BXL can forward ip packets up to 400Mpps with help by hardware(PFC or dPFC).

if PFC or TCAM in PFC failure occure, all ip packets will be forward to RP/SP in MSFC

in other word, it would be treated by softerware(only rp process)

the datasheet of SUP720-3BXL in web shows it can forwad 400Mbps with help by H/W.

is there anyone knows about software capacity of SUP720-3BXL?

(RP capacity that can forwards ip packets without help by PFC or dPFC)

[Giuseppe Larosa]

Hello Sanghee,

the PFC is part of normal working conditions, if PFC fails it is likely the device will have a lot problems

Presence of DFCs is optional and needed only to move to distributed CEF.

the SW performance can be much less then that of HW assisted forwarding.

Just to make an example a C7200 VXR with NPE-G2 is declared able to perform 2,000,000 pps

Cisco 7206VXR (NPE-G2) processor (revision A) with 917504K/65536K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID 35211565
MPC7448 CPU at 1666Mhz, Implementation 0, Rev 2.1
6 slot VXR midplane, Version 2.11

main cpu of RP or SP in a C6500 with sup 720 3B

cisco WS-C6506-E (R7000) processor (revision 1.1) with 458720K/65536K bytes of memory.
Processor board ID SAL10425HVV
SR71000 CPU at 600Mhz, Implementation 0x504, Rev 1.2, 512KB L2 Cache
Last reset from s/w reset

So you can think of 1 Mpps roughly. but again this should never happen in real world

To be noted that Control plane policing CoPP and the special rate limits allow to protect main cpu

see

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst6500/ios/12.2SX/configuration/guide/dos.html#wp1141467

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst6500/ios/12.2SXF/native/configuration/guide/dos.html#wp1141802

Hope to help

Giuseppe