WS-X6716-10G-3CXL Cisco Catalyst 6500 16-Port 10 GB Ethernet Module w/ DFC3CXL
Cisco Catalyst WS-X6716-10G-3CXL 16-Port 10 Gigabit Ethernet Module
High-Density, Distributed Forwarding 10GbE Module for Catalyst 6500-E Series
The Cisco WS-X6716-10G-3CXL is a high-density 16-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet line card engineered for Cisco Catalyst 6500-E Series chassis. Designed for enterprise campus cores and data center aggregation layers, this module integrates the powerful Distributed Forwarding Card 3CXL (DFC3CXL), enabling hardware-based local switching and dramatically reducing load on the supervisor engine.
With support for up to 1 million IPv4 routes, 256K NetFlow entries, and jumbo frames up to 9216 bytes, the WS-X6716-10G-3CXL delivers exceptional scalability for bandwidth-intensive applications such as virtualization, storage networking, video, and large-scale routing. Its flexible port-group architecture allows operation in oversubscription mode (4:1) for high port density or performance mode for line-rate throughput on critical uplinks.
Fully compatible with Cisco Virtual Switching System (VSS) when paired with Supervisor Engine 720 or 2T, this line card supports resilient, active-active network designs. Using X2 optical transceivers and a high-capacity fabric connection, the WS-X6716-10G-3CXL is an ideal solution for organizations seeking proven 10G performance, advanced routing scale, and carrier-class reliability within the Catalyst 6500-E platform.
Product Specifications – Cisco WS-X6716-10G-3CXL
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| Specification Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Cisco WS-X6716-10G-3CXL |
| Manufacturer | Cisco Systems |
| Product Series | Cisco Catalyst 6500-E Series |
| Module Type | 10 Gigabit Ethernet Line Card |
| Form Factor | Chassis-based line module |
| Compatible Chassis | Cisco Catalyst 6500-E Series |
| Total Ports | 16 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet (Fiber) |
| Optics Type | X2 Transceivers |
| Port Architecture | Port-group based (4 ports per group) |
| Operating Modes | Oversubscription Mode / Performance Mode |
| Oversubscription Ratio | 4:1 (Oversubscription Mode) |
| Forwarding Engine | Distributed Forwarding Card 3CXL (DFC3CXL) |
| Forwarding Type | Hardware-based local switching |
| Switch Fabric Bandwidth | 40 Gbps per slot (80 Gbps full duplex) |
| IPv4 Routing Table Size | Up to 1,000,000 routes |
| IPv6 Routing Support | Supported (with Supervisor dependency) |
| NetFlow Capacity | Up to 256,000 entries |
| Multicast Support | Hardware-based multicast replication |
| Jumbo Frame Support | Up to 9,216 bytes |
| VSS Compatibility | Supported with Supervisor Engine 720 / 2T |
| Onboard Memory | 1 GB (Default) |
| Power Consumption | ~487.2 W |
| Current Draw | 11.6A @ 42V |
| Cooling Requirement | Chassis-based airflow |
| Use Case – Core Layer | High-speed campus or data center core |
| Use Case – Aggregation Layer | Server aggregation and backbone uplinks |
| Key Advantage | Local forwarding with large routing tables |
| Deployment Environments | Enterprise campus, data center aggregation |
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FAQs:
Q1. What is the benefit of the "3CXL" version over the standard "3C" version?
The "XL" stands for "Extra Large" capacity. While the 3C supports 256,000 routes, the DFC3CXL supports up to 1,000,000 IPv4 routes and double the NetFlow entries (256k), making it suitable for larger internet-edge or core routing tables.
Q2. Does this module support SFP+ transceivers?
No, this module natively uses X2 transceivers. To use SFP+ optics, you would require a Cisco CVR-X2-SFP10G converter module (OnePK), which allows an SFP+ to fit into an X2 slot.
Q3. Can I use this in a non-E series Catalyst 6500 chassis?
While it can physically fit in older non-E chassis (like the 6509 or 6513), it requires High-Speed Fan Tray 2 and a high-wattage power supply. It is not supported in the 6503 non-E chassis or Cisco 7600 series.
Q4. How does "Performance Mode" work on this card?
The 16 ports are divided into 4 groups of 4. In "Performance Mode," only the first port of each group is active, providing dedicated 10Gbps bandwidth (no oversubscription) to that port.
Q5. Is this module compatible with the Supervisor Engine 2T?
Yes, the WS-X6716-10G-3CXL is compatible with Supervisor 2T, but it will operate in the "lowest common denominator" mode (DFC3CXL functionality) rather than utilizing the full PFC4 features of the Sup2T.
