Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Hardware Installation Manual page 19

SIP, SSC, and SPA Product Overview
This chapter provides an introduction to SPA interface processors (SIPs), SPA services cards (SSCs),
and shared port adapters (SPAs). It includes the following sections:
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For software details for the specific SIPs, SSCs, and SPAs that are supported on the Catalyst 6500 Series
switch, refer to the companion publication, Catalyst 6500 Series Switch SIP, SSC, and SPA Software
Configuration Guide.
Introduction to SIPs and SPAs
SIPs, SSCs, and SPAs constitute a new carrier card and port adapter architecture that increases
modularity, flexibility, and density across Cisco Systems switches for network connectivity. This section
describes the SIPs, SSCs, and SPAs and provides some guidelines for their use.
SPA Interface Processors
The following list describes some of the general characteristics of a SIP:
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OL-9041-04
Introduction to SIPs and SPAs, page 1-1
SIP, SSC, and SPA Compatibility, page 1-3
Modular Optics Compatibility, page 1-5
Power Management, page 1-8
A SIP is a carrier card that inserts into a switch slot like a line card. It provides no network
connectivity on its own.
A SIP contains one or more subslots, which are used to contain one or more SPAs. The SPA provides
interface ports for network connectivity.
During normal operation, the SIP should reside in a switch that is fully populated either with
functional SPAs in all subslots or with a blank filler plate (SPA-BLANK=) inserted in all empty
subslots.
SIPs support online insertion and removal (OIR) with SPAs inserted in their subslots. SPAs also
support OIR and can be inserted or removed independently from the SIP.
C H A P T E R
Catalyst 6500 Series Switch SIP, SSC, and SPA Hardware Installation Guide
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