Multi-Layer Switching

Device>Configure>Multi-Layer Switching

MLS Aging Timer

Sets the MLS aging time in seconds for regular established shortcuts and router candidate flows.

Included MLS-RP

Adds or deletes external routers (not running FCP) to or from the shortcut process provided by the Router Switch Module.

Shortcut Router Table

Displays information about all routers sending FCP to the Catalyst 5000 series switch for automatic inclusion in the shortcut process.

Netflow Data Export

Filters and exports NetFlow data for analysis at a specified host running the NFFC or NF Collector application.

Layer 2 Statistics

Displays the EARL2 switching engine’s statistics counters.

IP Destination Only (dstOnly). Select this filter to query for the absolute destination IP address. If cseFlowQueryDestinationMask is specified at the same time, it will be applied to the address part of cseFlowQueryDestination. Note that the source IP address, source netmask, and source port will not be available when Destination is selected.

IP Source OR Destination (srcOrDst). Select this filter to query for either the absolute destination or the source IP address. If either of cseFlowQueryDestinationMask and cseFlowQuerySourceMask objects are specified at the same time, they will be applied to the respective address parts of the cseFlowQueryDestination and cseFlowQuerySource objects. Use this selection to set up queries for flow in either direction.

IP Source AND Destination (srcAndDst). Select this filter to query for both the absolute destination and the source IP addresses. If either cseFlowQueryDestinationmask or cseFlowQuerySourceMask objects are specified at the same time, they will be applied to the respective address parts of the cseFlowQueryDestination and cseFlowQuerySource objects. Use this selection to set up queries for flow in one direction.

Complete IP Flows (fullFlow). Select this filter to query for a complete IP flow, including the transport port numbers. If either cseFlowQueryDestination Mask or cseFlowQuerySourceMask objects are specified at the same time, they will be applied to the respective address parts of the cseFlowQueryDestination and cseFlowQuerySource objects. Use this option to set up queries for flows on traffic using specific (TCP/UDP) port numbers corresponding to standard protocols such as FTP, WWW, TELNET, etc.

All Established Flows (any). Select this filter to return all rows corresponding to all established flow entries in the cseFlowDataTable.

The IP transport protocol type specified for this query: either UDP, TCP, or UDP and TCP together.

The source network address, mask, and port.

The destination network address, mask, and port.

The IP of the router for which the flows are available. A 0.0.0.0 indicates that the query is for any router and will be displayed as “any.”

The source address and port number. The display format for an IP address is: 1d.1d.1d.1d/2d or 4x.1x.1x.1x.1x.1x.1x.2d for IPX.

The source MAC address.

The destination MAC address.

The transport protocol type.

The VLAN number on which packets belonging to this flow are forwarded.


MLS Aging Timer

Device>Configure> Multi-Layer Switching>MLS Aging Timer

Use the MLS Aging Timer dialog box to set timeout parameters in seconds for regular established shortcuts and candidate flows. During the timing factor, shortcut process flows are calculated. When the timeout is reached, if flow is insubstantial, the shortcut is deleted from the internal shortcut table, or is replaced by a new entry to preserve memory utilization.

Regular Aging Time (cseFlowEstablshedAgingTime)

The aging time, in seconds, for regular established flows. The default value is 256 seconds, and the range values are 4 to1920 seconds.

Fast Aging Time (cseFlowFastAgingTime)

The fast aging time for established flow entries is based on two variables: (1) the time chosen to configure (configure the time from 0 - 128 seconds) and (2) the number of switched packets in the given time interval, where the number of packets is fewer than the value set in cseFlowFastAgePktThreshold.

Note: A typical value for fast aging time is 32 seconds (i.e., less than the number of packets in cseFlowFastAgePktThreshold that were switched within 32 seconds after a Layer-3 flow entry was established. The default fast aging time is 0 (no fast aging interval).

Threshold of Fast Aging (cseFlowFastAgePktThreshold)

The packet threshold setting for the cseFlowFastAging Time. It can be configured to 1,3,7,15,31, or 63 packets. If the packet threshold is not configured to one of these values, it will be adjusted to the closest value. The default fast aging time is 0; that is, no packets will be switched within the time set in cseFlowFastAgingTime after a Level-3 flow is established.

Click Apply to make your changes take effect, or click Cancel to close the dialog box without making any changes. Click Print to print the contents of the dialog box.

Command Line Alternative

Use the following commands to configure the MLS Aging Timer from the command line:

set mls agingtime <agingtime>

set mls agingtime fast <fastagingtime > <pkt_threshold>


 Layer-2 Statistics

Device>Configure>Multi-Layer Switching>Layer-2 Statistics

Use the Layer-2 Statistics dialog box to review the EARL2 switching engine’s statistics counters.

Local Ports Forwarded Packets (cseL2ForwardedLocalPkts)

The total number of local packets received and forwarded at Layer-2 by the EARL2 switching engine.

Total Forwarded Packets (cseL2ForwardedTotalPkts)

The total number of packets received and forwarded at Layer-2 by the EARL2 switching engine.

Learned MAC Addresses (cseL2NewAddressLearns)

The total number of new MAC addresses learned by the EARL2 switching engine.

Dropped Forwarded Packets (cseL2AddrLearnFailures)

The total number of MAC addresses for which learning failed due to fullness of the Layer-2 forwarding address table.

Missed Forwarded Packets (cseL2DstAddrLookupMisses)

The total number of MAC addresses missed during destination lookups.

Received IP Packets (cseL2IpPkts)

The total number of packets belonging to the IP family that were received by the EARL2 switching engine.

Received IPX Packets (cseL2IpxPkts)

The total number of packets belonging to the IPX family that were received by the EARL2 switching engine.

Received Assigned Network Packets (cseL2AssignedProtoPkts)

The total number of packets belonging to an assigned protocol family that were received by the EARL2 switching engine.

Received Other Packets (cseL2OtherProtoPkts)

The total number of packets belonging to all other protocol families that were received by the EARL2 switching engine.

Click Print to print the contents of the dialog box.

Click Cancel to close the dialog box.