[c-nsp] N7K tcam handling

[Dobbins, Roland]

On Mar 9, 2010, at 11:01 PM, Tim Durack wrote:

> Anyone know if the N7K handles tcam exhaustion more gracefully than
> the 6500? (If you've lived through that experience, you'll know why
> I'm asking.)

Yes, it does, due to the EARL8.  NetFlow works well, uRPF modes are flexible on a per-interface basis, ACLs don't have to be as convoluted, et. al.

> Docs suggest the N7K is generally smarter about handling tcam than the 6500.

Right, because of EARL8.

> Or maybe NX-OS is smarter.

NX-OS is great, but it's the hardware which makes the differences you cite.

> Heres an idea for Cisco: how about porting NX-OS to the 6500?

Wouldn't make much difference with regards to the things you cite, with the current 6500 hardware.

>  Or release a new Sup that makes the C6K an N6.5K? I think you would make a lot of customers happy.

Let your Cisco account team know this.

;>

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Roland Dobbins <rdobbins at arbor.net> // <http://www.arbornetworks.com>

    Injustice is relatively easy to bear; what stings is justice.

                        -- H.L. Mencken