IP Switching Tech Tip

Configure Gigaswitch for IP Switching

Introduction

If you are unfamiliar with the GIGAswitch/ATM configuration in general, consult the folowing sources for additional information:

1. GIGAswitch/ATM Installation and Service Manual Digital part number AA-QCV7B-TE
2. GIGAswitch/ATM Management Manual Digital part number AA-QCV8C-TE

Preliminaries

What you will need

1. A GIGAswitch/ATM with the Clock Card installed

2. A QLCV2 line card installed in the GIGAswitch

3. A Terminal Emulator or VT series terminal attached to the GIGAswitch

   The configuration technique described below may be done on a terminal that is directly attached to the clock card on the GIGAswitch. You may just as easily accomplish the same thing using a TELNET session. The clock module has a 10mb Ethernet twisted pair port that permits access to management and configuration functions using TCP/IP. See the GIGAswitch/ATM Installation and Service Manual for details on setting the TCP/IP address on the GIGAswitch, and connecting using TCP/IP.

   The 25-Pin D connector on the clock card of the GIGAswitch is a serial port to which you may attach a VT series terminal. Use this interface to perform local configuration of the GIGAswitch. Use a Digital H8571-K connector, and DEC office connect cable, to attach a VT series terminal or terminal emulator software to the GIGAswitch. The default settings are 9600 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop, no parity.

Verifying firmware levels

1. The Clock Module Firmware must be at or above V1.74. You may verify this information from the Clock Management Module Console CLK> prompt using the B command.

2. The GIGAswitch/ATM firmware must be at version 2.0.1ip or greater in order to support the operation of IP Switching on the QLCV2 line card. You may verify this information using the terminal attached to the GIGAswitch. Type ^O to enter Line Card Forwarding mode. From the Line Card Forwarding mode GIGAswitch/ATM-> prompt, issue the versions command.

Note that it may be necessary to upgrade the GIGAswitch/ATM firmware in order to bring it into compliance. If this is the case, consult the GIGAswitch/ATM Installation and Service Manual manual for details on how to accomplish this task.

Note also that, when upgrading the firmware, always be certain to consult the release notes that accompany the firmware upgrade kit. Very often, the release notes contain information on the operation of new firmware features, or updates on syntactic changes to existing firmware functions that are not documented anywhere else. The firmware release notes are a key source of information, and should always be the first document that you read, and the first place you turn to for answers.

Using configure_ipswitch

GIGAswitch/ATM-> configure_ipswitch

===== Active IP Switch Configuration Information ===== 
Default VCI for IFMP: 						32 
Slot Number, Link Number, VCI Number to IP Switch Controller: 	3, 1, 32
Rate in MBits/Sec for Multicast VCs:				20
Minimum and Maximum VCIs Reserved on each Link for IP Switch:	32, 512
IP Switching enabled on the following slots and ports 


Change IP Switch Configuration <1: Yes, 2: No>? 1
Default VCI for IFMP:				32		<d> 
Slot #, Link #, VCI # to IP Switch Controller:	3, 1, 32	<d d d> 
Rate in MBits/Sec for Multicast VCs:		20		<d> 
Min and Max VCIs for each Link for IPSwitch:	32, 512		<d d> 
	Ports enabled on slot 3:		<d d d d> 1 2 3 4

New IP Switch Configuration 
Default VCI for IFMP: 						32 
Slot Number, Link Number, VCI Number to IP Switch Controller: 	3, 1, 32
Rate in MBits/Sec for Multicast VCs:				20
Minimum and Maximum VCIs Reserved on each Link for IP Switch:	32, 512
IP Switching enabled on the following slots and ports 
	Ports enabled on slot 3:				01, 02, 03, 04, 
Save or discard new Configuration <1-Save, 2-Discard>? 1
New IP SWITCH Configuration written to Flash 

1. Ensure that you are in the Line Card forwarding mode of the console. Issue a ^O, and press return until you see the GIGAswitch/ATM-> prompt.
2. Issue the console command configure_ipswitch. It is important that the command be typed completely in lower case.
3. The configure_ipswitch command starts an interactive configuration process with the GIGAswitch. You may see an error message or two concerning the config records, but this is normal, and may safely be ignored.
4. If you have an active configuration for IP Switching, it is displayed. The first question that you are asked is whether or not you wish to change this configuration. Answer 1 for yes to begin the process of configuring the IP Switching software. Note that you always have the option of discarding a configuration once you have started, so don't worry about making changes that you can't undo.
5. The first configuration question concerns the default VCI for IFMP. In order for IP Switching to function properly, you need to designate a VCI for IFMP. All entities participating in IP Switching must agree on the same VCI for IFMP. Enter the value you have chosen for your site here.
6. The next value is a triplet which identifies the line card and physical port number into which the IP Switch Controller is plugged. The three values should be entered on the same line. Each value is separated by a single space. The first number specified the slot number. This is the GIGAswitch slot number into which the QLCV2 is installed. This number is clearly marked on the GIGAswitch chassis, and that number should be entered here. The second number is the physical port number. The port numbers on the QLCV2 number from 1 to 4. For the 14 slot GIGAswitch, the cards are oriented vertically, and the ports number from top to bottom. For the 5 slot GIGAswitch, the cards are oriented horizontally, and the ports number from left to right. Typically, the controller is connected to port 1 on the QLCV2. This is just a simple convention, there is no practical restriction. Simple ensure that the physical port number is properly entered at this point during configuration. The final number is the VCI for switch to controller communication. This number should be the same as the VCI number used for IFMP, although this is not an explicit requirement.
7. The next value is the rate in Mbps for multicast VCs. The default is 20, and should be left at 20, unless there is a compelling site specific reason to change it.
8. The next line asks the minimum and maximum VCI numbers to be made available for IP Switching. The minimum and maximum numbers are inclusive. The default is 32 to 512. Enter the two values separated by a single space, or press return to accept the default.
9. The final question or questions depends upon how many QLCV2 or 622 line cards you have installed in your system. You will be asked about each of these cards installed in your particular GIGAswitch in slow order. For each of these cards, specify the physical port numbers (1, 2, 3, or 4) over which you wish to run IP Switching. The ports not enabled for IP Switching will default to running ATM Forum LANE. Obviously, you MUST enable IP Switching on the line card and port number that you designated to connect to the controller.
10. When you have completed designating the ports that are to run IP Switching, the configuration is printed out in its entirety for you to review. Review it carefully.
11. If you decide to keep the changes, answer 1 to save the changes in flash. After committing the changes, you must restart the GIGAswitch/ATM for them to take effect.
12. If you decide to discard them, answer 2 to the question, and you are returned to the GIGAswitch/ATM console prompt nothing having been changed.

Using delete_ipswitch_config

NOTE! The delete_ipswitch_config command does NOT confirm the action. Once you press return on the command line, your IP Switching configuration is erased from flash. This cannot be undone. If you anticipate a need to re-use any portion of the current IP Switching configuration, use the show_ipswitch_config command described below to make note of the existing IP Switching configuration before erasing the configuraion in flash.

Using show_ipswitch_config

GIGAswitch/ATM-> show_ipswitch_config

Default VCI for IFMP: 						32 
Slot Number, Link Number, VCI Number to IP Switch Controller: 	3, 1, 32
Rate in MBits/Sec for Multicast VCs:				20
Minimum and Maximum VCIs Reserved on each Link for IP Switch:	32, 512
IP Switching enabled on the following slots and ports