Cisco IOS 12.0 Switching Services

Guidelines for External Routers

When using an external router, follow these guidelines:

• Cisco recommends one directly attached external router per Catalyst 5000 series switch to ensure that the MLS-SE caches the appropriate flow information from both sides of the routed flow.

• You can use Cisco high-end routers (Cisco 7500, 7200, 4500, and 4700 series) for MLS when they are externally attached to the Catalyst 5000 series switch. You can make the attachment with multiple Ethernets (one per subnet) by using Fast Ethernet with the ISL or with Fast EtherChannel.

• You can connect end hosts through any media (Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, ATM, and FDDI), but the connection between the external router and the Catalyst 5000 series switch must be through standard ...