Ethernet WS-X6748-GE-TX SAL04654F2K 8 Network Analysis Module WS-SVC-NAM-2 SAD093002B6 2 Supervisor Engine 720 (Active) WS-SUP720-3B SAL0485498A 2 Supervisor Engine 720 (Hot) WS-SUP720-3B SAL09358NE6 6 Firewall Module WS-SVC-FWM-1 SAD042408DF 4 CSM with SSL WS-X6066-SLB-S-K9 SAD094107YN 8 Intrusion Detection System WS-SVC-IDSM-2 SAD048102CG The module in slot 1 is the same as the Ethernet modules in the previous example. This module is fabric-only. Modules 4, 7, and 9 are all fabric-enabled, while module 8 is nonfabric-enabled. The output from the show fabric switching-mode command reveals that the single nonfabric-enabled blade has caused the supervisor to revert to a slower operating mode: 6509-2#sho fabric switching-mode Global switching mode is Truncated dCEF mode is not enforced for system to operate Fabric module is not required for system to operate Modules are allowed to operate in bus mode Truncated mode is allowed, due to presence of aCEF720, Standby supervisor module Module Slot Switching Mode Crossbar Crossbar Crossbar Crossbar Crossbar In this case, the module in question is a CSM, which, prior to the release of the ACE, was one of the more expensive modules available. Remember that cost does not equate to speed. The CSM was an excellent device, and I highly recommended it for situations where load balancing was a necessity, but in the case of extremely high throughput requirements, this service module may become a bottleneck. In the case of website architecture, it would be extremely rare for more than 32 Gbps to be flowing through the frontend. Such throughput would be possible in the case of balancing large appli- cation server farms or databases on the backend. The ACE module has replaced the Architecture CSM for load-balancing needs, but this example shows how the older, slower card impacts the entire switch. Using the show fabric status command on this switch indicates that not all fabric- enabled modules are created equal. The fabric-only module in slot 1 has two 20 Gbps channels to the fabric