Cisco RSP16

Cisco 7500 Series Routers Route Switch Processor RSP16

The RSP16 is the latest-generation, main system processor module for the Cisco 7500 series routers. (See Figure 1 and Figure 2.) The RSP16 is not available as an upgrade to an existing RSP, but supports the VIP2, VIP4, and new VIP6-80. The RSP16 does not support legacy interface processors, except for the CIP2, GEIP, GEIP+, FEIP2-DSW-2TX, FEIP2-DSW-2FX, SRPIP, CX-CIP2-ECA1 and ECA2. The RSP16 contains the central processing unit (CPU) and most of the memory components for the router. The Cisco IOS software images reside in Flash memory, located as follows on the RSP16:

The RSP16 also contains:

• Most of the additional memory components used by the system, including 16-MB onboard Flash memory and up to two Flash Disks (48 MB, 64 MB, or 128 MB per Flash Disk, with the 48-MB Flash Disk being the shipping default).
• Air-temperature sensors for environmental monitoring. (All of the logic for the environmental monitoring functions is contained on the router interface card.)

In addition to running the system software from DRAM, the RSP16 contains and executes the following management functions that control the system:

• Sending and receiving routing protocol updates
• Managing tables and caches
• Monitoring interface and environmental status
• Providing Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) management and the interface between the console and Telnet

The high-speed switching section of the RSP16 communicates with and controls the interface processors on the high-speed CyBus. This switching section of the RSP16 decides the destination of a packet and switches it based on that decision.