WS-F6700-DFC3B Cisco Catalyst 6500 Distributed Forwarding Refurbished

The Cisco WS-F6700-DFC3B is a Distributed Forwarding Card designed for the Catalyst 6500 series switches, specifically tailored for Wide Area Network (WAN) switching. This high-performance card is crucial for enhancing network efficiency, providing distributed forwarding capabilities, and supporting a vast number of routes. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the key features, benefits, and technical specifications of the Cisco WS-F6700-DFC3B, focusing on its role in optimizing network performance for the WS-X67XX series.

The Cisco Catalyst 6500 series is a widely acclaimed family of modular switches known for their scalability, flexibility, and reliability. These switches are commonly used in enterprise networks to support a range of applications and services. The series is renowned for its versatility and ability to adapt to the evolving needs of modern network infrastructures.

Distributed forwarding is a critical aspect of network architecture that plays a pivotal role in optimizing packet processing and reducing latency. In traditional centralized forwarding, a single device processes all incoming and outgoing packets, which can lead to performance bottlenecks and slower data transfer rates. The introduction of distributed forwarding, facilitated by cards like the Cisco WS-F6700-DFC3B, decentralizes packet processing, distributing the workload across multiple devices and improving overall network efficiency.

• High Performance: The WS-F6700-DFC3B is engineered for high-performance networking, capable of handling demanding workloads in WAN environments. With advanced processing capabilities, it ensures smooth and efficient data forwarding, even in complex network setups.
• Scalability: Designed to meet the evolving needs of growing networks, the Cisco WS-F6700-DFC3B offers scalability by supporting a large number of routes. This scalability is particularly beneficial for organizations experiencing network expansion or those operating in dynamic environments.
• 256K+ Routes Support: One of the standout features of the WS-F6700-DFC3B is its ability to support over 256,000 routes. This extensive routing capacity is essential for managing diverse network traffic and ensuring that the switch can handle a vast array of destination addresses efficiently.
• Compatibility with WS-X67XX Series: The WS-F6700-DFC3B is specifically designed to complement the WS-X67XX series switches, forming a cohesive and integrated solution. This compatibility ensures seamless integration and optimal performance when used in conjunction with the designated switch series.

• Processor Architecture: The Cisco WS-F6700-DFC3B is equipped with a powerful processor architecture that facilitates rapid packet processing and forwarding. This ensures low-latency data transfer and contributes to a responsive and high-performing network.
• Memory Capacity: With ample memory capacity, the WS-F6700-DFC3B can efficiently store and retrieve routing information, contributing to faster decision-making in packet forwarding. This memory capacity is vital for supporting the extensive routing capabilities of the card.
• Interface Options: The card provides a range of interface options, allowing seamless connectivity with the WS-X67XX series switches. These interfaces enable the efficient exchange of data within the network and support diverse connectivity requirements.
• Redundancy and Reliability: In mission-critical network environments, reliability is paramount. The WS-F6700-DFC3B incorporates redundancy features to ensure uninterrupted operation even in the event of hardware failures. This enhances the overall reliability and availability of the network.

• Enhanced Network Performance: By offloading packet processing tasks to dedicated forwarding cards like the WS-F6700-DFC3B, the overall network performance is significantly enhanced. This results in lower latency, reduced packet loss, and improved responsiveness, providing a better user experience.
• Optimized Resource Utilization: The distributed forwarding architecture optimizes the utilization of network resources by distributing the workload. This prevents bottlenecks and ensures that each component of the network operates at its optimal capacity, contributing to efficient resource utilization.
• Support for Growing Networks: As organizations expand and their network requirements evolve, the WS-F6700-DFC3B's scalability becomes a crucial asset. The card can accommodate the increasing demand for routing and forwarding capabilities, making it suitable for networks of varying sizes.
• Seamless Integration: The compatibility of the WS-F6700-DFC3B with the WS-X67XX series switches ensures seamless integration into existing network infrastructures. This facilitates an easy upgrade path for organizations using Cisco Catalyst 6500 series switches.

Use Cases and Applications

• Enterprise Networks: The Cisco WS-F6700-DFC3B is well-suited for enterprise networks where high performance, scalability, and reliability are essential. It caters to the diverse needs of modern enterprises, supporting a wide range of applications and services.
• Service Providers: Service providers, especially those dealing with WAN environments, benefit from the distributed forwarding capabilities of the WS-F6700-DFC3B. It enables them to deliver reliable and responsive services to their customers.
• Data Centers: In data center environments where rapid data processing is critical, the WS-F6700-DFC3B contributes to efficient packet forwarding and ensures minimal latency. Its compatibility with the WS-X67XX series makes it a valuable asset in data center networking.

Resiliency and High Availability

The WS-F6700-DFC3B DISTI Switching Accelerator Forwarding Card is designed to provide resiliency and high availability in network environments. Some of the features that contribute to its resiliency and high availability include:

• Redundancy: The DFC3B supports redundant supervisor engines, which allows for a redundant control plane. This means that if one supervisor engine fails, the other can take over without any interruption of service, ensuring the resiliency of the network.
• High Availability: The DFC3B supports a feature called Non-Stop Forwarding (NSF), which allows for the forwarding plane to continue functioning even if the control plane is experiencing an issue. This helps to minimize disruption of service in the event of a failure, resulting in a high availability of the network.
• Error Detection and Correction: The DFC3B has built-in error detection and correction mechanisms, which help to detect and correct errors in the data plane. This helps to maintain the integrity of the data being transmitted and to prevent data corruption, ensuring the resiliency of the network.
• Hot-swappable: The DFC3B is hot-swappable, which means that it can be replaced without having to power off the device. This helps to minimize downtime and improve service availability.
• Memory protection: With the DFC3B, there is a protection mechanism for memory, which allows the module to continue functioning even if a portion of its memory is damaged.

Robust Security and Dynamic Quality

The WS-F6700-DFC3B DISTI Switching Accelerator Forwarding Card provides robust security and dynamic quality of service (QoS) features to help ensure the security and performance of a network.

• Robust Security: The DFC3B supports advanced security features such as access control lists (ACLs), VPNs, and firewall services, which help to protect the network against unauthorized access and attacks. It also supports advanced security protocols like IPsec, SSH, and SNMPv3, which enhance the security of the network.
• Dynamic Quality of Service (QoS): The DFC3B supports advanced QoS features, such as traffic shaping, congestion management, and class-based marking, which help to ensure that mission-critical applications receive the bandwidth they need. It also supports the use of differentiated services code point (DSCP) and IP Precedence markings, which allow for the differentiation of network traffic based on priority. Additionally, the DFC3B supports the use of multiple queues per interface, which allows for the efficient management of network congestion.
• Advanced Services: The DFC3B supports advanced services like MPLS, multicast, and VPN services, which allows for the creation of VPNs, MPLS-based VPNs, and advanced multicast services.

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Part Number or SKU# WS-F6700-DFC3B
• Product Name: Catalyst 6500 Distributed Forwarding Card
• Product Type: Distributed Forwarding Card

• Application/Usage: Wide Area Network
• Memory:
  • 256 MB DRAM Installed
  • 512 MB DRAM Upgradeable
  • 1 GB DRAM Upgradeable
• Miscellaneous:
  • Package Contents:
    • One Catalyst 6500 series DFC3B
    • One disposable grounding wrist strap
    • One bag of mounting screws
    • One bracket
  • Additional Information:
    • Support of MPLS and ACE counters
    • IPv4 routes: 256KB entries
    • NetFlow entries: 128 KB
    • ACL labels: 4096 KB
    • DFC3 Supported Combinations:
      • WS-SUP720, PFC3A functionality
      • WS-SUP720-3B, PFC3B functionality
      • WS-SUP720-3BXL, PFC3B functionality

• Catalyst 6500 series switch (Catalyst 6506, 6509, 6509-NEB, or 6513) or Cisco 7600 series router (Cisco 7606, 7609, or 7613)
• Supervisor Engine 720 with MSFC3 running Cisco IOS software on the Supervisor Engine 720 and MSFC3
• Deployed in CEF720 line cards such as WS-X6704-10GE, WS-X6724-SFP, WS-X6748-SFP, and WS-X6748-GE-TX
• Not supported on Cisco 6500 or 6800 series line cards

Finally, the Cisco WS-F6700-DFC3B Catalyst 6500 DISTI Wide Area Network Switching Distributed Forwarding Card stands as a testament to Cisco's commitment to providing high-performance solutions for modern network challenges. With its advanced features, scalability, and compatibility with the WS-X67XX series switches, it addresses the evolving needs of enterprise networks, service providers, and data centers. Organizations looking to optimize their network performance and support a growing number of routes can benefit significantly from the capabilities of this distributed forwarding card.

The Cisco WS-F6700-DFC3B is a powerful component that adds value to the Cisco Catalyst 6500 series, contributing to the creation of robust and efficient network infrastructures. As technology continues to advance, the distributed forwarding capabilities of cards like the WS-F6700-DFC3B will play a crucial role in meeting the demands of modern networking environments.