PB512582
Cisco® announces availability of Cisco IOS® Software Release 12.2(33)SXI for the Cisco Catalyst® 6500 Series. Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(33)SXI introduces significant new features to the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Virtual Switching System 1440 (Cisco Catalyst 6500 VSS 1440), thereby improving the virtual switching system's high-availability and supportability of multiple integrated service modules.
New Features
Enhanced Fast Software Upgrade (eFSU)
Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(33)SXI releases support for enhanced fast software upgrade (eFSU) on the Virtual Switching System 1440. eFSU allows for an increase in network availability and significantly (under 200 milliseconds) reduces the downtime during software upgrades, leveraging the existing software features of nonstop forwarding (NSF) and stateful switchover (SSO).
Additional information regarding eFSU on the Catalyst 6500 series switches can be found at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst6500/ios/12.2SX/configuration/guide/issu_efsu.html.
Service Modules Support
Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(33)SXI also introduces support for a number of integrated service modules, in addition to the previously supported NAM service module.
Table 1 below lists all of the current supported integrated services modules with VSS.
Table 1. Supported Service Modules
Scaled Support for Multichassis EtherChannels
Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(33)SXI introduces support for a maximum of 512 Multichassis EtherChannels.
Additional information regarding this feature can be found at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst6500/ios/12.2SX/configuration/guide/vss.html#wp1060818.
Dual-Active Detection Enhancement
Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(33)SXI introduces support for a newer dual-active detection mechanism named "Dual-Active Fast Hello", using special heartbeat messages over a backup Ethernet link between the primary and the standby VSS chassis.
More information on dual-active detection can be found at http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/switches/lan/catalyst6500/ios/12.2SX/configuration/guide/vss.html#wp1115311.
Upgrade Paths
Customers running Release 12.2(33) SXH in either Cisco IOS Software or Cisco IOS Software with Modularity can upgrade to Release 12.2(33)SXI of either Cisco IOS Software or Cisco IOS Software with Modularity.
The Cisco Catalyst 6500 VSS 1440 is supported only on the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Virtual Switching Supervisor Engine 720 with 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks and not supported on Cisco Catalyst 6500/Cisco 7600 Series Supervisor Engine 720, Cisco Catalyst 6500/Cisco 7600 Series Supervisor Engine 720-3B, or Cisco Catalyst 6500/Cisco 7600 Series Supervisor Engine 32.
Customers planning to upgrade or purchase a new software image license on a Supervisor Engine, should order the 6500-SW-SPARECD part number and configure the image of choice onto it.
For further details about ordering 6500-SW-SPARECD, visit: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/switches/ps5718/ps708/prod_bulletin0900aecd806780a3.html
Availability of Cisco Catalyst 6500 VSS 1440
The Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Virtual Switching Supervisor Engine 720 with 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks and the minimum required software (Cisco IOS Software Release 12.2(33)SXH1) for the Cisco Catalyst 6500 VSS 1440 are available today.
Ordering Information for Cisco Catalyst 6500 VSS 1440
To place an order, visit the Cisco Ordering homepage. To download software, visit the Cisco Software Center.
Table 2 shows ordering information for Virtual Switching System 1440.
Table 2. Ordering Information
*Supported WITH 12.2(33)SXI1
For More Information
For more information about the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Virtual Switching System 1440, visit http://www.cisco.com/go/vss.
For information about the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series, visit http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps708/index.html.