Cisco CATALYST 5000 ROUTING SWITCH MODULE Specification Guide

 Route Switch Module 7-1

Route Switch Module

Catalyst 5000 family switches support the Route Switch Module (RSM) and the
RSM/Versatile Interface Processor 2 (VIP2). This chapter describes the RSM and consists
of these sections:

•

Route Switch Module (WS-X5302), page 7-1

•

Route Switch Module/VIP2 Module, page 7-6

For detailed RSM installation and configuration information, refer to the Catalyst 5000
Family Route Switch Module Installation and Configuration Note and the Software
Configuration Guide for your switch. For detailed RSM/VIP2 installation and
configuration information, refer to the Route Switch Module Catalyst VIP2-15 and VIP2-40
Installation and Configuration Note.

The RSM is a router module running IOS router software that plugs directly into the
Catalyst 5000 family switch backplane, providing multiprotocol routing for the
Catalyst 5000 family Ethernet interfaces.

The RSM requires Catalyst 5000 family supervisor engine module software release 2.3(1)
or later and IOS software release 11.2(7)P or later.

From the perspective of the Catalyst 5000 family switches, the RSM appears as a module
with a single trunked port and one Media Access Control (MAC) address. From the
perspective of the user, the RSM has one port. This port is unlike other Catalyst 5000 family
module ports in that it has no external attributes, such as media type or speed.