Share this
A Supervisor Engine Comparison: 4500E 8-E & 4500E 7L-E
by Darin Knobbe on Jul 23, 2020 1:30:00 PM
A Supervisor Engine is a module that is installed in the Cisco Chassis-based Catalyst Switches or Routers. The supervisor engine contains nearly all the same components of fixed Cisco Switches or Routers. These Supervisor engines come in a variety of different types with different functionalities and are installed in the Switches/Router Chassis as per the requirements of the network types.
Today we'll look at two in the 4500E family, 8-E and 7L-E. You'll see an outline of their performance and scalability along with services and support. Check out the highlights below!
Cisco Catalyst 4500E Supervisor Engine 8-E Feature Highlights
Introducing the first Cisco Catalyst supervisor engine to bring wired and wireless convergence to a single platform. This enterprise-class Cisco Catalyst 4500E Supervisor Engine 8-E offers:
Performance and Scalability
The Catalyst 4500E 8-E has up to eight non-blocking 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks that are small form-factor pluggable plus [SFP+]. The Power over Ethernet Plus (30 W) has capabilities on all ports in a line card to simultaneously support Cisco Universal PoE (60 W) providing data connection and power to devices.
The supervisor engine also has 104 ports of 10 Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ (eight uplinks ports plus 96 line card ports) and up to 128,000 Flexible Net flow (FNF) entries in hardware. For flexible storage options, the 4500E 8-E supports Secure Digital cards. For more performance and scalability, check out Table 1 below.
Infrastructure Services
Cisco IOS® XE Software, the modular open application platform for virtualized border-less services, offers maximum resiliency with redundant components, nonstop forwarding/stateful switchover (NSF/SSO), and Cisco In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) support. The network virtualization through Multi-Virtual Route Forwarding (VRF) and Easy Virtual Networking (EVN) technology for Layer 3 segmentation is simplified for loop-free topologies without spanning tree dependencies (software roadmap).
Flexible and future-proofed uplinks with Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to support next-generation protocols bring automation through Embedded Event Manager (EEM), Cisco Smart Call Home, AutoQoS, and Auto SmartPorts for fast provisioning, diagnosis, and reporting.
Hardware Options For You
Here at PivIT, we know the importance of bringing options to the table. Whether it's the option of two Supervisor Engines or two switches from separate OEMs. We strive to bring you the best option for your network.
Cisco Services
Optimized application performance through deep visibility with FNF supports rich Layer 2, 3, and 4 information (MAC, VLAN, and TCP Flags) and synthetic traffic generation with IP service-level agreement (IP SLA-VO). The 4500E 8-E has Medianet capabilities to enhance and simply video QoS, monitoring, and security. Alongside the Medianet capabilities, the engine has an energy-efficient design with Cisco EnergyWise technology to manage the network, PoE+, Personal Computers, and Laptops
Investment Protection and Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Full backward compatibility with 6-, 24-, and 48-Gbps slot line cards with no performance degradation.
The Supervisor Engine 8-E is compatible with classic Cisco Catalyst 4500 line cards and power supplies, providing full investment protection. It is not compatible with the classic Cisco Catalyst 4500 chassis. When you deploy the Supervisor Engine 8-E with classic line cards, all of the new features except the 24- and 48-Gbps per-slot switching capacity are inherited
Table 1. Cisco Catalyst 4500E Supervisor Engine 8-E Performance and Scalability Features
Features | Performance |
Centralized Wired Switching Capacity | Up to 928 Gbps |
Wireless Termination Capacity | Up to 20 Gbps (software Roadmap) |
Per-slot Switching Capacity | 48 Gbps |
Throughput |
|
Routing Entries |
|
Multicast Routes | 32,000 |
CPU | Quad-core; 2.0 GHz |
CPU Queues | 64 |
DHCP Snooping Entries | 12,000 |
MAC Addresses | 55,000 |
Active VLANs | 4094 |
Spanning Tree Protocol Instances | 10,000 |
Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs) | 4094 |
Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) | Maximum of 8 bi-directional sessions |
Cisco Catalyst 4500E Supervisor Engine 7L-E Feature Highlights
The Cisco Catalyst 4500E Supervisor Engine 7L-E builds on the widely deployed line of Cisco Catalyst 4500 supervisor engines and enhances its predecessors to provide nonblocking 48 Gbps per slot bandwidth with Flexible NetFlow for optimized application visibility. In addition, the enterprise-class Cisco Catalyst 4500E Supervisor Engine 7L-E offers the following:
Performance and Scalability
The Supervisor Engine 7L-E has two non-blocking 10 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks (SFP+) or 4 non-blocking 1 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks (SFP). This module supports 3-, 6-, and 7-slot Cisco Catalyst 4500E chassis with a maximum of 240 ports of 10/100/1000 Base-T and 400 ports of 1000Base-X (CSFP) in a 7-slot chassis. The 7L-E enables next-generation Universal Power Over Ethernet (UPOE, WS-X4748-UPOE+E) in addition to backward compatibility with other PoE standards.
With 128,000 Flexible NetFlow entries in hardware, the external USB and SD card support flexible storage options and 10/100/1000 RJ-45 console and management port. More performance and scalability are below in Table 2.
Infrastructure Services
Cisco IOS XE Software, the modular open application platform for virtualized borderless services, maximizes resiliency with redundant components, nonstop forwarding/stateful switchover (NSF/SSO), and in-service software upgrade (ISSU) support. Network virtualization through Multi-Virtual Route Forwarding (VRF) technology for Layer 3 segmentation provides automation through Embedded Event Manager (EEM), Cisco Smart Call Home, AutoQoS, and Auto SmartPorts for fast provisioning, diagnosis, and reporting.
Borderless Network Services
Optimized application performance through deep visibility with Flexible NetFlow supports rich Layer 2/3/4 information (MAC, VLAN, TCP Flags) and synthetic traffic monitoring with IP service-level agreement (SLA). Medianet capabilities help simplify video quality of service, monitoring, and security.
In addition, multicast features such as Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM) and Source-Specific Multicast (SSM) provide enterprise customers the additional scalability to support multimedia applications. Energy-efficient design with Cisco EnergyWise™ technology helps reduce the total cost of ownership with investment protection. Full backward compatibility with 6-, 24-, and 48 Gbps slot line cards have no performance degradation.
The Cisco Catalyst 4500E Supervisor Engine 7L-E is compatible with classic Cisco Catalyst 4500 line cards and power supplies, providing full investment protection. Supervisor Engine 7L-E is not compatible with the classic Cisco Catalyst 4500 chassis.
Table 2. Cisco Catalyst 4500E Supervisor Engine 7L-E Performance and Scalability Features
Features | Supervisor Engine 7L-E |
Centralized Switching Capacity | 520 Gbps |
Per-slot Switching Capacity | 48 Gbps |
Throughput |
|
Routing Entries |
|
Multicast Routes | 32,000 |
CPU | Quad-core; 2.0 GHz |
CPU Queues | 64 |
DHCP Snooping Entries | 12,000 |
MAC Addresses | 55,000 |
Active VLANs | 4094 |
Spanning Tree Protocol Instances | 10,000 |
Switched Virtual Interfaces (SVIs) | 4094 |
Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN) | Maximum of 8 bi-directional sessions |
About PivIT Global
PivIT Global provides the support you need through infrastructure, maintenance, and professional services. Contact us today to chat more about the supervisor engines or how we can support you through our third-party maintenance and professional services offerings.
Share this
- Configuration Guides (47)
- Cisco Routers (29)
- Switches (27)
- Network Security (23)
- Routing Protocols (21)
- Cisco Switches (20)
- Routers (20)
- Cisco (19)
- Product Comparisons (19)
- Firewall (18)
- Cisco Security (17)
- Cisco Technical Information (17)
- IT Hardware Solutions (17)
- Network Protocols (17)
- Wireless (17)
- Security (15)
- OneCall (13)
- Servers (12)
- cisco asa (12)
- Cisco Wireless (11)
- Router Protocols (11)
- Cisco UCS (9)
- Upgrading Network (9)
- Cisco Catalyst (8)
- Product Highlight (8)
- Access Control Lists (7)
- Cisco Servers (7)
- Fortinet (7)
- Access Points (6)
- Arista Networks (6)
- OSPF (6)
- Server Comparisons (6)
- Wireless APs (6)
- Cisco ASR (5)
- Cloud Solutions (5)
- HPE-Aruba Wireless (5)
- Juniper Mist (5)
- Network Management (5)
- SD-WAN (5)
- Storage (5)
- Switch Comparison (5)
- Back To Basics (4)
- Cybersecurity (4)
- EIGRP (4)
- Firewall Architecture (4)
- HSRP (4)
- Juniper Networks (4)
- Network Automation (4)
- OEM Comparison (4)
- Aruba Central (3)
- Cisco Telephony (3)
- DHCP (3)
- DHCP Snooping (3)
- Dell EMC PowerEdge (3)
- Internet (3)
- Maintenance (3)
- Maintenance Renewal (3)
- Network Accessories (3)
- Network Servers (3)
- TPM (3)
- Telephony (3)
- aruba (3)
- Cisco NX-OS (2)
- Cisco Nexus (2)
- Dell Servers (2)
- Fortinet NGFWs (2)
- IT Trends (2)
- LAN Networks (2)
- Network Time Protocol (2)
- Palo Alto NGFWs (2)
- Rapid PVST+ (2)
- Remote Configuration (2)
- Software Defined Networking (2)
- WLAN (2)
- Ways to Save (2)
- fortigate (2)
- Asset Management (1)
- CPU Usage (1)
- Cisco AIR-CT (1)
- Cisco Aironet (1)
- Cisco DNA (1)
- Cisco ISR (1)
- Cisco Supervisor Engines (1)
- Cisco UCS Manager (1)
- Cognitive Campus (1)
- Cost of Downtime (1)
- Dell EMC Data Domain (1)
- Edge Switches (1)
- Fabric Extenders (1)
- GRE Tunnel (1)
- HPE BL (1)
- Juniper SRX (1)
- Nexus Switches (1)
- Nutanix (1)
- Optics (1)
- PowerEdge R740xd (1)
- STP Extension (1)
- Sparing Integrity Program (1)
- Switched Virtual Interface (1)
- TCP (1)
- UCS Fabric Interconnects (1)
- hyperconverge (1)
- March 2024 (1)
- February 2024 (2)
- January 2024 (1)
- December 2023 (1)
- November 2023 (2)
- October 2023 (1)
- September 2023 (3)
- August 2023 (5)
- July 2023 (2)
- June 2023 (4)
- May 2023 (5)
- April 2023 (8)
- March 2023 (7)
- February 2023 (5)
- January 2023 (2)
- December 2022 (3)
- November 2022 (3)
- October 2022 (8)
- September 2022 (9)
- August 2022 (9)
- July 2022 (8)
- June 2022 (9)
- May 2022 (5)
- April 2022 (3)
- March 2022 (1)
- February 2022 (2)
- November 2021 (2)
- October 2021 (1)
- September 2021 (2)
- August 2021 (2)
- July 2021 (3)
- June 2021 (2)
- May 2021 (4)
- April 2021 (4)
- March 2021 (2)
- February 2021 (1)
- January 2021 (2)
- December 2020 (2)
- November 2020 (2)
- October 2020 (2)
- September 2020 (2)
- August 2020 (4)
- July 2020 (5)
- June 2020 (4)
- May 2020 (6)
- April 2020 (2)
- March 2020 (1)
- February 2020 (2)
- January 2020 (2)
- December 2019 (1)
- May 2019 (2)
- April 2019 (5)
- February 2019 (1)
- January 2019 (3)
- December 2018 (1)
No Comments Yet
Let us know what you think