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To download an image to bootflash, access the Catalyst 4000 Layer 3 Services module using the session
command and enter the following command in privileged mode:
Router># copy tftp bootflash:
Overview of the Catalyst 4003 and 4006 Layer 3 Services Module
Interfaces
The Catalyst 4000 Layer 3 Services module supports two external and two internal Layer 3 Gigabit
Ethernet interfaces, which run IOS software, and 32 10/100 Layer 2 ports, which are configurable from
the supervisor engine.
You can map all Layer 2 ports on the Catalyst 4000 family switch with VLANs and trunks to the Layer 3
interfaces on the Catalyst 4000 Layer 3 Services module.
To configure the Layer 3 interfaces, you must first access the Catalyst 4000 Layer 3 Services module
through a direct terminal connection or by entering the session command from the supervisor engine
prompt. You must configure the internal Gigabit Ethernet ports from the supervisor engine to match
their associated Layer 2 ports. To configure the Catalyst 4000 Layer 3 Services module, use the Layer
3 console. To configure the Layer 2 ports, use the switch console. This section provides information on
how to configure both the external and internal Gigabit Ethernet ports.
You must configure and add Layer 2 ports to your VLANs before the Catalyst 4000 Layer 3 Services
module can route traffic from the Layer 2 ports on the Catalyst 4000 family switch.
Understanding Key Features
This section describes the key features supported in Layer 3 switching software.
Distributed Hardware Forwarding
Layer 3-switching software uses a distributed architecture in which the control path and data path are
relatively independent. The control path code, such as routing protocols, runs on the processor; the data
packets are switched by the Ethernet interfaces and the switching fabric.
A microcoded application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) handles all packet switching for the
interfaces. The following are the main functions of the control layer between the routing protocol and
the firmware data path microcode:
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Managing the internal data and control circuits for the packet forwarding and control functions
Extracting the other routing and packet forwarding-related control information from the Layer 2
and Layer 3 bridging and routing protocols and the configuration data, and then conveying the
information to the interfaces to control the data path
Collecting the data path information, such as traffic statistics, sent from the interfaces to the
processor
Handling certain data packets sent from the Ethernet interfaces to the processor
Installation and Configuration Note for the Catalyst 4000 Layer 3 Services Module
Overview of the Catalyst 4003 and 4006 Layer 3 Services Module Interfaces
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