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Cisco VIP4-80. Program memory?

Draco

Golden Member
We've got this VIP4-80 in our 7513, and it has 64mb of non-upgradeable "packet memory" as Cisco calls it. As well as 64mb of upgradeable "program memory". Anyone know what the benefit is to upgrading the program memory? It can go to 256mb. I can't find any description or explanation on Cisco's web site.

*sigh*

 
memory in a router is divided into to categories:

Processor - This is where the IOS runs and maintains its stack, processes and routing tables. Any other memory allocation needs from IOS go here as well
IO memory - This is where packets are buffered for switching, in higher routers its pretty fast memory. This is your "packet memory"

Reasons to upgrade processor memory are:
1) Running low with your current version of IOS, routing table might have grown or gotten to big
2) Or the biggest reason - you need a different or newer IOS for features or fixes and the minimum memory is larger than what you have.

So if your not having any memory troubles at all, and your next version of IOS looks like it will fit then there isn't really a reason to upgrade.

-edit- this might help...
cisco 7500 overview
 
With 64MB, as long as you aren't experiencing any memory issues and aren't planning on running BGP, you should be fine for a long while.

If you want to run BGP with a full routing table, you need at least 128MB on a Cisco.
 
We are running BGP with a full route table. I know our RSP8 card has at least a 128mb on it, but I think the VIP4-80 which has a GigE interface to our Switch only has 64mb on it...
 
show proc mem
show mem
show ip route summary
show ip bgp summary

All of these can tell you memory utilization and how big your route table is.
 
Ah, I confused VIP and RSP. Your RSP needs >= 128MB for a full routing table, 64MB on the VIP for FIB should be okay unless you do things like complex policy routing.
 
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