Packet Switching on the Cisco 7500 Router

IOS on the Cisco 7500 provides the most varied range of switching methods of all the platforms, including:

  • Process switching

  • Fast switching

  • Optimum switching

  • Cisco Express Forwarding (CEF)

  • Distributed fast switching

  • Distributed CEF (dCEF)

  • NetFlow switching

Distributed Fast and Distributed CEF switching are made possible by the VIP interface processor, which is discussed later in this chapter. NetFlow switching is covered in Appendix A.

The following sections describe RSP-based switching. The description is divided into the three stages: receiving the packet, switching the packet, and transmitting the packet.

RSP Switching: Receiving the Packet

Figure 6-4 illustrates the steps of the RSP based packet receive ...

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