Network Integration Best Practices
The following network integration best practices are recommended for most WAAS deployments:
- Leave the physical WAE interfaces set to auto-sense: Because it is possible that some of your WAEs will be able to run at 1-Gbps speed, leaving all of the WAEs deployed set to auto-sense simplifies the configuration and deployment. In addition, an alarm will be raised in the Central Manager if an interface negotiates to half duplex.
- Use EtherChannel for interface redundancy when both physical WAE interfaces connect to the same LAN switch: Improve performance by providing 2X the available LAN bandwidth.
- Use a standby interface for interface redundancy when both physical WAE interfaces connect to different LAN switches: Increase WAE availability in the event of a problem with the primary interface or connected LAN switch.
- Always configure a MD5 password for WCCP service groups: Protect the integrity of the service group members by making sure that only authorized devices can join the service group.
- Stick to inbound WCCP redirection: Even on software-based platforms, inbound redirection is more efficient.
-
On hardware-based platforms, configure WCCP using the following guidelines:
- — Use L2 forwarding instead of GRE forwarding.
- — Always use mask assignment.
- — Only use inbound redirection.
- — Do not use the ip wccp redirect exclude in command.
- Only use the GRE return EMIC on software-based platforms (i.e. ISR routers): Hardware-based platforms process GRE return traffic completely in software, which causes serious performance issues.
- Run a recommended version of IOS for WCCP: Tables 4-5 and 4-6 list the minimum recommended IOS versions when running WCCP with Cisco WAAS.
Table 4-5. Minimum IOS Recommendations: Software-Based Platforms
|
Major Version |
M Train |
T Train |
|
12.1 |
12.1(14) |
12.1(3)T |
|
12.2 |
12.2(26) |
12.2(14)T |
|
12.3 |
12.3(13) |
12.3(14)T5 |
|
12.4 |
12.4(10) |
12.4(9)T1 |
Table 4-6. Minimum IOS Recommendations: Hardware-based Platforms
|
Platform |
Version |
|
Catalyst 3560/3750 |
12.2(37)SE |
|
Catalyst 4500/4900 |
12.2(31)SG |
|
Catalyst 6500, Sup2 |
12.2(18)SXF13 |
|
Catalyst 6500, Sup32 |
CatOS 8.5/12.2(18)SXF13 |
|
Catalyst 6500, Sup720 (Native) |
12.2(18)SXF13 |
|
Catalyst 6500, Sup720 (Hybrid) |
CatOS 8.5/12.2(18)SXF13 |
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