[f-nsp] MLX-32 & BGP Routes

Derek dblabian at gmail.com
Tue Oct 4 16:37:59 EDT 2011


I am trying to get more then 2 million BGP entries on a standard MLX.

The brocade datasheets are unclear about the BGP capabilities of the
MLX series in each configuration.  The original Foundry NI-MLX
datasheet stated it would support up to 2 million routes, the same as
the RX series.  This is not enough for me.  The current brocade
datasheet (http://www.brocade.com/downloads/documents/data_sheets/product_data_sheets/MLX_Series_DS.pdf)
for the MLX notes 10 million BGP routes with an asterisk but no clear
information on how you would achieve this.  The current XMR data sheet
(listed right below the MLX on brocades website
http://www.brocade.com/downloads/documents/data_sheets/product_data_sheets/NetIron_XMR_DS.pdf)
also says 10 million routes for BGP.  Whats also worth noting is that
no XMR part numbers are listed in the MLX datasheet.  It also noted
that a new management module for the MLX and MLXe were released this
year.

Now to the juicy part:  I am being told that the MLX with both the old
and the new MR will not support 10 million BGP routes even though the
datasheet says it will.  Brocade says you have to put XMR MR's into
the MLXe and since that would require all your line cards to also be
XMR you basically have to have an XMR router.  This seems like utterly
ridiculous false advertising about the MLX.  Its also totally unclear
what the upgrade to the new MR actually gets you for the standard MLX.

Does anyone know if this has changed or if there is a workaround to
get more then 2 million BGP routes out of an MLX configuration or with
an MLX configuration with an upgraded MR without having to swap out
basically every part to XMR?

I appreciate any help anyone can provide.

Derek



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