The Cisco Catalyst^® 6500 Series switch—the premier modular multilayer switch—delivers secure converged services from the wiring closet to the core, to the data center, to the WAN edge.

Figure 1.      Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Gigabit Ethernet Interface Modules

Designed to complement the many roles that the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series plays in a network, Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series mixed media Gigabit Ethernet modules offer the broadest selection of media, densities, performance, interoperability, and chassis deployments for enterprises and service providers. These modules are ideal for gigabit Ethernet over fiber to the desktop, gigabit uplinks, aggregation of high-density 10/100 interfaces, Metro Ethernet, backbone and high-speed server farm or data center connections as well as mixed media environments supporting both fiber and copper cable connections. The Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Gigabit Ethernet modules offer:

• Flexible configurations for any deployment:Range of port densities, media choices, and performance speeds for any deployment requirement
• Choice of media and connector type: Support multi-mode fiber or single-mode fiber using GBIC or SFP modules or MT-RJ fixed optics

Note:    For Gigabit Ethernet over Copper requirements please refer to the Catalyst 6500 series 10/100 and 10/100/1000 Ethernet interface module data sheet.

• High mixed media Gigabit Ethernet port densities: From 8 up to 48 ports per module, and up to 410 mixed media/fiber Gigabit Ethernet ports per system
• Scalable and predictable system performance: Provide a selection of switch fabric connections and throughput options: 32 Gbps, 256 Gbps and 720 Gbps bandwidth with system throughput of: 15 Mpps, 30 Mpps, 210 Mpps and up to 400 Mpps
• Operational consistency: Configurations available for Catalyst 6500 3-, 6-, 9-, and 13-slot chassis running Cisco IOS^®Software and Cisco Catalyst Operating System Software; interoperable with all other interfaces and services modules; and forward-compatible with all Catalyst 6500 supervisor engines
• Maximum network uptime and resiliency: Support Cisco enhanced Per-Virtual LAN (VLAN) Spanning Tree Plus (PVST+) protocol, IEEE 802.1w Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) and IEEE 802.1s Multiple Spanning Tree (MST) protocol, Per-VLAN Rapid Spanning Tree (PVRST) protocol, Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP), Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP), Gateway Load Balancing Protocol (GLBP), Cisco EtherChannel^®, and IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation for fault-tolerant connectivity
• Superior traffic management: Available with large per-interface buffers and multiple-priority queues for traffic prioritization and policing, allowing for tight service-level agreement (SLA) enforcement
• Extensive management tools: Support CiscoWorks network management platform, Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) versions 1, 2, and 3 and four RMON groups (statistics, history, alarms, and events)

Gigabit Ethernet Applications and Key Features

Cisco Catalyst 6500 series mixed media/fiber-based gigabit Ethernet interface modules are used in distribution and core layers, data-center and Metro Ethernet applications. These gigabit Ethernet interface modules deliver wire-speed switched connectivity and support several switch fabric connections and traffic forwarding options, these include: Classic, CEF256, dCEF256 and CEF720. With a range of port densities and modular physical layer interfaces, these modules also offer a choice of packet buffer depths for traffic shaping, and QoS granularity with varying number of queues and drop threshold options. These key features are important aspects to in determining best module for a given network application (Table 1).

Table 1.       Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Gigabit Interface Module Applications and Key Features

* Queues Legend: 1p2q2t= 1 priority queue, 2 round robin queues, 2 thresholds

Superior Traffic Management and Queuing Characteristics of Catalyst 6500 series Gigabit Ethernet Modules

The Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Gigabit Ethernet modules support multiple queues per port for Quality of Service. Each port supports Weighted Random Early Detection (WRED) for congestion avoidance within each queue, and Weighted Round Robin (WRR) for scheduling between queues and a strict priority queue for voice traffic. Additionally, multiple thresholds can be configured to manage differentiated levels of service.

Ideal for handling mission-critical, bursty, or low latency traffic such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) or voice applications, these interface modules, including the CEF720-based WS-X6724-SFP, scale network performance and intelligent services. These modules also feature transmit and receive packet buffers and a strict priority transmit queue.

Cisco EtherChannel Technology—Increases Link Resiliency and Provides Scalable Bandwidth Aggregation

The Catalyst 6500 can aggregate up to eight physical Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet or 10Gigabit Ethernet links into a single virtual link using Cisco’s Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) or IEEE 802.3ad technology. This provides network managers a reliable high-speed solution for the campus network backbone.

The Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series also supports multimodule channeling technology, providing even greater resiliency by creating channels across ports on separate modules in the same chassis. As a result, connectivity is maintained even if one module (and corresponding ports) fails. This is ideal for deployments requiring scalable, flexible bandwidth within the network. An additional benefit of Cisco EtherChannel capabilities include automatic recovery and redistribution of loads across remaining links; easing management; and making the technology transparent to network applications. The same Cisco EtherChannel technology can be used across Cisco Systems industry-leading 10-Gigabit Ethernet modules, providing increased aggregation as well as resiliency against link failure.

Gigabit Ethernet Interface Module Switch Fabric and Forwarding Characteristics

The Cisco Catalyst 6500 Classic, CEF256, dCEF256 and CEF720 interface modules provide Gigabit Ethernet with a choice of speeds and forwarding rates.

* WS-X6724-SFP achieves 26Mpps sustained per slot for modules equipped with DFC3 to support distributed forwarding)

** WS-X6724-SFP supports a single 20-Gbps channel connection to switch fabric on Supervisor Engine 720; all other 67xx interface modules feature dual 20-Gbps channel connections (40Gbps total) to the switch fabric

Legend: 1p2q2t = one strict priority queue, two round-robin queues, and two different thresholds

Figure 2.      Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Gigabit Ethernet Interface Module WS-X6748-SFP

Figure 3.      Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Gigabit Ethernet Interface Modules WS-X6724-SFP

Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series CEF720 Gigabit Ethernet Mixed Media Modules

Designed for high performance Enterprise and Service Provider distribution, core layers, data-center, Web-hosting and Metro Ethernet applications, CEF720 mixed media interface modules provide line-rate gigabit Ethernet forwarding using twisted pair or fiber optic cabling with the following operational advantages:

• Backplane connection: Connects to the switch fabric using dual full duplex 20 Gbps switch fabric channels (40 Gbps total), a single 20 Gbps channel is supported by the WS-X6724-SFP
• Chassis/slot support: Can occupy any slot in Cisco Catalyst  6503E, 6504E, 6506, 6506E, 6509, 6509E, and 6509-NEB-A and slots 9 through 13 in Catalyst 6513; the WS X6724-SFP module is supported in all slots of the Catalyst 6513
• Supervisor engine: Supported by all versions of Supervisor Engine 720
• Base forwarding mode and performance: Uses the central CEF engine located on the supervisor engine to forward packets up to 30 Mpps per system in its base configuration
• Distributed forwarding upgrade option and performance: When equipped with the optional field-upgradeable WS-F6700-DFC3 dCEF forwarding daughter cards, the interface module delivers optimal performance, up to a sustained 48 Mpps per slot (26 Mpps per slot for WS X6724-SFP)
• Optics: Support hot-pluggable modular small form-factor pluggable (SFP)

Note:    Inline power support is not supported on mixed media Gigabit Ethernet interface modules.

Table 2.       CEF720 Gigabit Ethernet SFP Interface Modules

* Jumbo Frame Support

** Queues Legend: 1p3q1t = 1 priority queue, 3 round robin queues, 1 threshold. For optimal performance, Cisco recommends using a distributed forwarding card

Figure 4.      The Optional Field-Upgradeable for use with CEF720 Class Interface Modules

Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series DCEF256 Gigabit Ethernet Mixed Media Interface Modules

Designed for distribution and core layers and for data-center and Web-hosting applications, Cisco Catalyst 6500 series dCEF256 optical interface modules provide line-rate Gigabit Ethernet forwarding with the following operational advantages:

• Backplane connection: Uses dual 8-Gbps (16Gbps) full-duplex serial channel connections to the switch fabric on a Supervisor Engine 720 or a SFM/SFM2 module
• Slot requirements: Can occupy any slot in any Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series chassis except the 6513 chassis which requires installation in slots 9 through 13 (the only slots on the chassis with dual fabric connections)
• Supervisor engine: Supports Supervisor Engine 2 with a SFM or all versions of Supervisor Engine 720
• Distributed forwarding mode and performance: Equipped with the field-upgradeable WS-F6K-DFC or WS-F6K-DFC3 dCEF forwarding daughter cards; the interface module delivers optimal performance, up to a sustained 24 Mpps per slot, by using the dCEF engine and dCEF tables located on the DFC/DFC3 daughter card
• Optics: Supports hot-pluggable gigabit interface converters (GBICs)

Table 3.       dCEF256 Gigabit Ethernet Optical Interface Modules

* Queues Legend: 1p3q1t = 1 priority queue, 3 round robin queues, 1 threshold

Figure 5.      dCEF256 Gigabit Ethernet Optical Interface Modules WS-X6816-GBIC

Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series CEF256 Gigabit Ethernet Mixed Media Interface Modules

Designed for data center and server farm applications, Cisco Catalyst CEF256 optical interface modules provide line-rate Gigabit Ethernet forwarding with the following operational advantages:

• Backplane connection: Connects to the switch fabric using one 8 Gbps full-duplex connection as well as supporting a connection to the 32 Gbps shared bus
• Slot requirements: Can occupy any slot in any Catalyst 6500 Series chassis
• Supervisor engine: Supported by the Supervisor Engine 1A, Supervisor Engine 2, Supervisor Engine 32, or Supervisor Engine 720
• Base forwarding mode and performance: Uses the central CEF engine located on the supervisor engine to forward packets up to 30 Mpps per system in the interface module’s base configuration
• Distributed forwarding upgrade option and performance: When equipped with the optional field-upgradeable WS-F6K-DFC or WS-F6K-DFC3 dCEF forwarding daughter cards, the interface module delivers optimal performance, up to a sustained 15 Mpps per slot; requires a switch fabric equipped chassis using either the SFM/SFM2 with a Supervisor Engine 2 with MSFC2 or the Supervisor Engine 720
• Optics: Supports hot-pluggable gigabit interface converters (GBICs)

Note:    Supervisor Engine 720 communicates with a CEF256 interface module in 256 Gbps mode. The SFM is not required when using the Supervisor Engine 720.

Table 4.       CEF256 Gigabit Ethernet Optical Interface Modules

* Queues Legend: 1p3q1t = 1 priority queue, 3 round robin queues, 1 threshold

Figure 6.      CEF256 Gigabit Ethernet Optical Interface Modules

Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Classic Gigabit Ethernet Optical/Mixed Media Interface Modules

Designed for distribution and core layers and for data-center and Web-hosting applications, Cisco Catalyst 6500 series Classic Gigabit Ethernet interface modules provide line-rate forwarding with the following operational advantages and characteristics:

• Backplane connection: Provide a 32 Gbps shared bus connection
• Slot requirements: Can occupy any slot in any Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series chassis
• Supervisor engine: Supported by the Supervisor Engine 1A, Supervisor Engine 2, Supervisor Engine 32, or Supervisor Engine 720
• Forwarding mode and performance: Uses the central CEF engine located on the supervisor engine to forward packets up to 15 Mpps per system in the interface module’s base configuration
• Distributed forwarding upgrade: None; Classic interface modules cannot be upgraded for distributed forwarding
• Optics: Supports hot-pluggable gigabit interface converters (GBICs)

Table 5.       Classic Gigabit Ethernet Optical Interface Modules

* Queues Legend: 1p3q1t = 1 priority queue, 3 round robin queues, 1 threshold

Figure 7.      Classic Gigabit Ethernet Optical Interface Module WS-X6416-GBIC

Interface Distances

Table 6 summarizes the interfaces and distances supported by all the Gigabit Ethernet modules in the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series.

Table 6.       Interfaces and Distances Supported by Gigabit Ethernet Modules in the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series

* Mode-conditioning patch is required. Using an ordinary patch cord with MMF, 1000BASE-LX/LH SFP/GBICs, and a short link distance (10s of meters) can cause transceiver saturation resulting in an elevated bit error rate (BER). In addition, when using the LX/LH SFP/GBIC with 62.5 micron diameter MMF, you must install a mode-conditioning patch cord between the SFP and the MMF cable on both the transmit and receive ends of the link. The mode-conditioning patch cord is required for link distances greater than 300 m (984 ft).

** 1000BASE-ZX-SFP can reach up to 100 km by using dispersion-shifted SMF or low attenuation SMF; the distance depends on fiber quality, number of splices and connectors.

For more information refer to Cisco GBICs and SFP datasheets.

Ordering Information

Table 7.       Catalyst 6500 Series Chassis Part Numbers

Catalyst 6500 24-port GigE Mod: fabric-enabled (Req. SFPs) # WS-X6724-SFP