WS-X6908-10G-2T Cisco Catalyst 6900 Series 8-Port 10 Gigabit Ethernet Fiber Module
Cisco WS-X6908-10G-2T Catalyst 6900 Series 8-Port 10 Gigabit Ethernet Module
High-Performance 10GbE Fiber Aggregation for Catalyst 6500-E/6807-XL Core Switches
The Cisco WS-X6908-10G-2T is a high-performance 8-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet line card designed for Cisco Catalyst 6500-E and 6807-XL chassis. Engineered for core and distribution layer deployments, this module delivers wire-speed performance, hardware-accelerated services, and scalable forwarding to support bandwidth-intensive enterprise and data center networks.
Built with a distributed forwarding architecture using DFC4/DFC4XL, the WS-X6908-10G-2T offloads packet processing from the supervisor engine, enabling line-rate Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching, advanced QoS, NetFlow, and security enforcement. With 80 Gbps backplane bandwidth and optimized per-port buffering, the module ensures low latency and consistent throughput for high-performance applications.
This 10GbE module supports X2 transceivers for flexible fiber connectivity and integrates seamlessly into Catalyst 6500-E and 6807-XL infrastructures, making it ideal for high-density aggregation, data center distribution, and secure enterprise core networking.
Designed for scalability and resiliency, the WS-X6908-10G-2T supports Cisco TrustSec, hardware-based ACL enforcement, and MACsec encryption (software dependent), ensuring secure and reliable data transport across mission-critical networks.
Product Specifications – Cisco WS-X6908-10G-2T 8-Port 10 Gigabit Ethernet Module
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| Specification Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Cisco WS-X6908-10G-2T 8-Port 10 Gigabit Ethernet Module |
| Product Series | Cisco Catalyst 6500-E / 6800 Series |
| Device Type | 10 Gigabit Ethernet Line Card / Switching Module |
| Manufacturer | Cisco Systems |
| Part Number | WS-X6908-10G-2T |
| Deployment Layer | Core & Distribution Layer |
| Port Density | 8 × 10 Gigabit Ethernet fiber ports |
| Transceiver Type | X2 optics required |
| Supported Optics | 10GBASE-SR, LR, ER, LRM, and X2 DAC (model dependent) |
| Backplane Bandwidth | 80 Gbps (dual 40 Gbps channels) |
| Switching Capacity | Up to 80 Gbps per module |
| Forwarding Performance | Up to 60 Mpps |
| Forwarding Architecture | Distributed forwarding via DFC4 / DFC4XL |
| Forwarding Daughterboard | DFC4 (2T) or DFC4XL (2TXL) |
| Buffer Memory | 128 MB per port |
| QoS & Queuing | 8 transmit queues & 2 receive queues per port (8q4t / 2q4t) |
| Layer Support | Hardware-based Layer 2 & Layer 3 switching and routing |
| Hardware Acceleration | NetFlow, ACLs, QoS, security processing |
| Security Features | Cisco TrustSec, ACL enforcement, IEEE 802.1AE MACsec (hardware capable) |
| Scalability | Supports large MAC tables, IPv4/IPv6 routes & security entries (capacity depends on Supervisor/DFC version) |
| Supervisor Compatibility | Supervisor Engine 2T / 2TXL |
| Chassis Compatibility | Cisco Catalyst 6500-E & Catalyst 6807-XL |
| Distributed Forwarding Benefit | Offloads packet processing from supervisor for line-rate performance |
| Operating Mode | Line-rate forwarding with hardware-based services |
| Power Consumption | Optimized per-port efficiency vs earlier 10G modules |
| Cooling | Provided by chassis cooling system |
| Hot-Swappable | Yes (Online Insertion & Removal supported) |
| Form Factor | Line card module for supported chassis |
| Use Cases | 10G aggregation, campus core, data center distribution, secure high-performance switching |
| Primary Benefits | High-density 10G aggregation, hardware-based security & QoS, scalable forwarding, enhanced performance |
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FAQs:
Q1. Does this module work with the older Supervisor 720?
No. The 6900 series modules require the Supervisor Engine 2T or 2TXL to operate. They are not backward compatible with Supervisor 32 or Supervisor 720.
Q2. What is the difference between the 2T and 2TXL version of this module?
The 2TXL version features a larger DFC4XL daughterboard, which supports significantly larger routing tables (up to 1 million IPv4 routes) compared to the standard 2T version.
Q3. What type of transceivers does this module use?
It uses X2 transceivers (e.g., X2-10GB-SR, X2-10GB-LR). If you wish to use SFP+ optics, you will need a CVR-X2-SFP10G OneX Converter module.
Q4. Can I use this module in a standard Catalyst 6500 (non-E) chassis?
No. The 6900 series modules are only supported in the "E" series chassis (e.g., 6506-E, 6509-E, 6513-E) and the 6807-XL.
Q5. Does this module support VSS (Virtual Switching System)?
Yes, when paired with the Supervisor 2T, this module fully supports VSS, allowing two physical switches to be managed as a single logical entity.
