Implementing Inter-VLAN Routing

Deploying CEF-Based Multilayer Switching

Layer 3 Switch Processing

In Layer 3 switches, the

control path and data path
are relatively independent.
• The control path code,
such as routing
protocols, runs on the
route processor.
• Data packets are
forwarded by the
switching fabric.
Layer 3 Switch Processing (Cont.)

Layer 3 switching can occur at two different locations on the

switch.
• Centralized switching: Switching decisions are made on the route processor
by a central forwarding table.
• Distributed switching: Switching decisions can be made on a port or line-
card level.
Layer 3 switching takes place using one of these two methods:
• Route caching: A Layer 3 route cache is built in hardware as the switch sees
traffic flow into the switch.
• Topology-based switching: Information from the routing table is used to
populate the route cache, regardless
of traffic.
CEF-Based Multilayer Switches

• CEF caches routing information in the FIB table

and Layer 2 next-hop addresses in the adjacency
table.
Multilayer Switch Packet Forwarding Process

• Some IP packets cannot be

processed in hardware.
• If an IP packet cannot be
processed in hardware, it is
processed by the Layer 3
engine.
CEF-Based MLS Lookups

1. Layer 3 packets initiate TCAM lookup.

2. The longest match returns adjacency with rewrite information.
3. The packet is rewritten per adjacency information and forwarded.
ARP Throttling
CEF-Based MLS Operation
Configuring and Verifying CEF

Configuring CEF
• ip cef (enabled by default)
• ip route-cache cef (only on VLAN interface)
Verifying CEF
• show ip cef fa 0/1 detail
• show adjacency fa 0/1 detail
 Enabling CEF

The commands required to enable CEF are platform

dependent:
• On the Cisco Catalyst 4000 switch
Switch(config-if)#ip cef

• On the Cisco Catalyst 3550 switch

Switch(config-if)#ip route-cache cef
 Verifying CEF

Switch#show ip cef [type mod/port | vlan_interface] [detail]

Switch# show ip cef vlan 11 detail

IP CEF with switching (Table Version 11), flags=0x0

  10 routes, 0 reresolve, 0 unresolved (0 old, 0 new), peak 0
  13 leaves, 12 nodes, 14248 bytes, 14 inserts, 1 invalidations
  0 load sharing elements, 0 bytes, 0 references
  universal per-destination load sharing algorithm, id 4B936A24
  2(0) CEF resets, 0 revisions of existing leaves
  Resolution Timer: Exponential (currently 1s, peak 1s)
  0 in-place/0 aborted modifications
  refcounts:  1061 leaf, 1052 node

  Table epoch: 0 (13 entries at this epoch)

172.16.11.0/24, version 6, epoch 0, attached, connected

0 packets, 0 bytes
  via Vlan11, 0 dependencies
    valid glean adjacency
Common CEF Problems

• Is ideal switching method (CEF, DCEF) in use?

• Are CEF tables complete and accurate?
 Verify Layer 3 Switching

Switch#show interface {{type mod/port} | {port-channel

number}} | begin L3

Switch#show interface fastethernet 3/3 | begin L3

L3 in Switched: ucast: 0 pkt, 0 bytes - mcast: 12 pkt, 778 bytes mcast
L3 out Switched: ucast: 0 pkt, 0 bytes - mcast: 0 pkt, 0 bytes
4046399 packets input, 349370039 bytes, 0 no buffer
Received 3795255 broadcasts, 2 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles
.....
Switch#
 Displaying Hardware Layer 3 Switching
Statistics

Switch#show interfaces {{type mod/port} | {port-channel

number}} include switched

Switch#show interfaces gigabitethernet 9/5 | include switched

L2 Switched: ucast: 8199 pkt, 1362060 bytes - mcast: 6980 pkt, 371952 bytes
L3 in Switched: ucast: 3045 pkt, 742761 bytes - mcast: 0 pkt, 0 bytes mcast
L3 out Switched: ucast: 2975 pkt, 693411 bytes - mcast: 0 pkt, 0 bytes
 Adjacency Information

Switch#show adjacency [{{type mod/port} |

{port-channel number}} | detail | internal | summary]

Switch#show adjacency gigabitethernet 9/5 detail

Protocol Interface Address
IP GigabitEthernet9/5 172.20.53.206(11)
504 packets, 6110 bytes
00605C865B82
000164F83FA50800
ARP 03:49:31
 Debugging CEF Operations

Switch#debug ip cef {drops | access-list | receive |

events | prefix-ipc | table}

• Displays debug information for CEF

Switch#debug ip cef {ipc | interface-ipc}

• Displays debug information related to IPC in CEF

Switch#ping ip

• Performs an extended ping

How to Troubleshoot CEF
Summary

• Layer 3 switching is high-performance packet switching in

hardware.
• MLS functionality can be implemented through CEF.
• CEF uses tables in hardware to forward packets.
• Specific commands are used to enable and verify
CEF operations.
• Commands to enable CEF are platform dependent.
• CEF problems can be matched to specific solutions.
• Specific commands are used to troubleshoot and solve CEF
problems.
• Ordered steps assist in troubleshooting CEF-based problems.