Catalyst 5000 Series Release Notes for FDDI Software Release 2.1

Documentation

New Features in FDDI Software Release 2.1

FDDI Software Release 2.1 Modifications

FDDI Software Release 2.1 Caveats

Cisco Connection Online

Catalyst 5000 Series Release Notes for FDDI Software Release 2.1

These release notes describe the features, modifications and caveats for the Catalyst 5000 series FDDI software release 2.1.

Documentation

The following documents are available for the Catalyst 5000 series switch:

Catalyst 5000 Series Installation Guide
Catalyst 5000 Series Configuration Guide and Command Reference

These documents are available on the Cisco Connection Documentation, Enterprise Series CD, or in print.

New Features in FDDI Software Release 2.1

This section lists the Catalyst 5000 series FDDI software release 2.1 new features. Refer to the Catalyst 5000 Series Installation Guide and Catalyst 5000 Series Configuration Guide and Command Reference publications for implementation instructions.

802.10 protocol on FDDI---Catalyst 5000 series software release 2.1 multiplexes multiple VLANs between switches and routers using 802.10 protocol on FDDI.
Rejecting MAC address learning (fddicheck)---An FDDI interface can reject the learning of MAC addresses that it previously learned from an Ethernet interface using the fddicheck user-configurable option. This feature prevents FDDI modules from incorrectly learning MAC addresses when the following two conditions simultaneously exist:
- Spurious VOID frames are present on the FDDI ring
- The MAC addresses have previously been learned by Ethernet interfaces
Disabling Automatic Packet Recognition and Translation (APART)---To increase throughput performance, you can disable the software content-addressable memory (CAM) of the FDDI module. The CAM stores Internet packet exchange (IPX) translation information to support automatic packet recognition and translation (APART). The Catalyst 5000 EARL CAM continues to provide packet forwarding functionality after APART is disabled using default IPX translations. Note that there are some drawbacks to disabling the FDDI software CAM, as described in the chapter "Defining the Catalyst 5000 Series Switch" of the Catalyst 5000 Series Installation Guide.

FDDI Software Release 2.1 Modifications

In FDDI software releases prior to 2.1, the FDDI module drops and does not forward IP frames that have a physical MAC length greater than 1525 bytes and an IP packet length less than or equal to 1500. In FDDI module software release 2.1, this problem is corrected---the IP length is checked and if it is less than or equal to 1500 bytes the packet is forwarded. (CSCdi58989)

FDDI Software Release 2.1 Caveats

This section describes possible, unexpected behavior and other miscellaneous caveats for Catalyst 5000 series FDDI software release 2.1. The caveats listed here describe only serious problems.

After you clear the FDDI module configuration, although the command show port port_num Status column displays a port as "connected", the CE-State column displays the port as "isolated" and the Conn-State column displays the port as "disabled". This is a problem with the display only; the actual FDDI module is still physically active. (CSCdi57956)
If you upgrade the Catalyst 5000 with supervisor engine module software release 2.1 while the FDDI software is a release prior to 2.1 (such as FDDI software release 1.5), the FDDI module might fail to come online. To recover from this error, reset the module using the command reset mod_num. (CSCdi60282)
A learned MAC address in the FDDICAM that corresponds to an IPX address cannot be cleared using the command clear cam dynamic from the console when APART is enabled. Although the command clear cam dynamic clears the MAC address from the NMP CAM table, the FDDICAM retains it for the duration of its aging time (FDDICAM aging time is half of the aging time of the NMP CAM). To delete the MAC address from both the FDDICAM and NMPCAM tables, use the command clear cam mac_addr. (CSCdi60839)
When you insert or replace FDDI modules, clear the module configuration information, using the command clear config mod_num, to obtain the correct spanning tree parameters for the modules.
A connectivity problem might occur if a FDDI port is configured as a trunk and the link goes up and down or the FDDI module resets, To recover from this error, disable and re-enable the port using the commands set port disable and set port enable.

Cisco Connection Online

Cisco Connection Online (CCO), formerly Cisco Information Online (CIO), is Cisco Systems' primary, real-time support channel. Maintenance customers and partners can self-register on CCO to obtain additional content and services.

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, CCO provides a wealth of standard and value-added services to Cisco's customers and business partners. CCO services include product information, software updates, release notes, technical tips, the Bug Navigator, configuration notes, brochures, descriptions of service offerings, and download access to public and authorized files.

CCO serves a wide variety of users through two interfaces that are updated and enhanced simultaneously---a character-based version and a multimedia version that resides on the World Wide Web (WWW). The character-based CCO supports Zmodem, Kermit, Xmodem, FTP, Internet e-mail, and fax download options, and is excellent for quick access to information over lower bandwidths. The WWW version of CCO provides richly formatted documents with photographs, figures, graphics, and video, as well as hyperlinks to related information.

You can access CCO in the following ways:

WWW: http://www.cisco.com.
Telnet: cco.cisco.com.
Modem: From North America, 408 526-8070; from Europe, 33 1 64 46 40 82. Use the following terminal settings: VT100 emulation; databits: 8; parity: none; stop bits: 1; and baud rates up to 14.4 kbps.

For a copy of CCO's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), contact ccohelp@cisco.com. For additional information, contact ccoteam@cisco.com.

If you are a network administrator and need personal technical assistance with a Cisco product that is under warranty or covered by a maintenance contract, contact Cisco's Technical Assistance Center (TAC) at 800 553-2447, 408 526-7209, or tac@cisco.com. To obtain general information about Cisco Systems, Cisco products, or upgrades, contact 800 553-6387, 408 526-7208, or csrep@cisco.com.

Table of Contents