Route Processor (RP)
The RP, shown in Figure 1-9, is the main system processor in the router. The RP contains the system
central processing unit (CPU), the system software, and most of the system memory components,
and it maintains and executes the management functions that control the system. The RP contains
the following components:
•
25-MHz Motorola MC68040 CPU for processing key functions that are not time-critical.
•
System hardware configuration register for setting default boot instructions.
•
Bank of hardware (MAC-layer) addresses for the interface ports.
•
Most of the memory components used by the system, including the eight erasable programmable
read-only memory (EPROM) components that contain the default system software (Although
these components actually are EPROMs, they are commonly referred to as the software or boot
ROMs.).
•
Air-temperature sensors for environmental monitoring.
In addition to the preceding system components, the RP 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 SNMP management and the console/Telnet interface
The RP must be installed in the top processor slot, which is labeled RP.
Memory Components
Table 1-3 lists the functions of the various types of memory on the RP, and Figure 1-9 shows the
locations of each.
Table 1-3
Memory
Type
EPROM
DRAM
NVRAM
Flash memory
Flash memory
card
EEPROM
1. Although these components actually are EPROMs, they are commonly known as the software or boot ROMs.
2. The size (capacity) of the software EPROMs changes as needed to accommodate the size of the system software image. Software
Releases 9.17(6) and earlier reside on 2-Mb EPROMs, Software Release 9.17(7) resides on 4-Mb EPROMs, and the size of future
software releases is likely to increase.
RP Memory Components
Size
Quantity
1
2
4 Mb
8
16 MB
4
or
64 MB
4
128 KB
1
4 MB
16
8 or
1
3
16 MB
–
1
Description
4-Mb EPROMs
4-MB SIMMs
16-MB SIMMs
128 KB
256-KB Flash memory
components
PCMCIA Flash memory
card
Board-specific information,
address allocator
Physical Description
Location
ROM1–ROM8 (see the chapter
Maintenance
"
")
SIMMS sockets U35, U36, U58, U59
U120
U14–U17, U27–U30, U45–U48, U60–63
Flash memory card slot on faceplate
U108
Product Overview 1-11