The Cisco Distributed Forwarding Card (DFC), part number WS-F6K-DFC, is a critical component designed to enhance the performance of Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series switches. As a switching accelerator, the DFC significantly improves the switching capacity, allowing for more efficient data handling in both Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching processes. By offloading tasks from the central supervisor module, the DFC enables the switches to achieve line-rate forwarding for large-scale deployments.
The DFC offers local switching capabilities by processing and forwarding traffic directly within the line card itself, reducing the need for data to traverse the backplane to the supervisor module. This results in faster processing and higher scalability, especially useful in environments with extensive, high-bandwidth requirements. Additionally, the near-zero latency provided by this card proves invaluable for mission-critical applications needing rapid data throughput.
The device is built for deployment in redundant configurations, offering failover options and resilience, ensuring that network operations remain unaffected in case of hardware failure. The DFC supports a wide array of traffic types, including multicast, unicast, and other enhanced Ethernet services, making it an ideal solution for enterprise-level networking environments. Installation is non-disruptive and provides performance boosts without needing significant reconfiguration of the existing network infrastructure.
A key feature of the WS-F6K-DFC is its compatibility with several different supervisor engines, including the Supervisor Engine 720 and Supervisor Engine 2T, making it a flexible option for various network configurations. By allowing the network to carry out distributed forwarding decisions, this module increases overall throughput, making it a must-have in bandwidth-intensive setups.
EOL Technology Services provides comprehensive support, including professional services and replacement parts for part number WS-F6K-DFC. Whether you need replacements, maintenance assistance, or guidance on integrating this switching accelerator with your network setup, EOL's professional team ensures reliable service and hardware availability to minimise your downtime.
