Cisco VIP4-80
Services Accelerator Versatile Interface Processor 4-80
Product Highlights
As enterprise and service-provider networks scale, every interface processor slot in a Cisco 7500 series chassis must deliver maximum switching performance and intelligent services without burdening the Route Switch Processor. The Cisco VIP4-80 (Services Accelerator Versatile Interface Processor 4-80) is the highest-performance member of the fourth-generation VIP family, purpose-built for the most demanding distributed switching environments.
Powered by a 250-MHz MIPS RM7000 processor, the VIP4-80 delivers 150–210 kpps of switching throughput per direction (300–420 kpps aggregate), effectively doubling the capacity of earlier-generation VIPs. Each module accommodates two modular port adapters, supporting a broad range of LAN and WAN media — including Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Serial, Channelized Serial, HSSI, ATM, and POS — with over 750 MB of aggregate PA bandwidth.
The VIP4-80 ships with 64 MB CPU SDRAM (expandable to 256 MB) and 64 MB ECC-protected packet SDRAM, providing the memory depth required for Distributed Cisco Express Forwarding (dCEF), Distributed Weighted Random Early Detection (D-WRED), and Distributed Committed Access Rate (D-CAR). By offloading Layer 3–7 switching and QoS decisions from the RSP, each VIP4-80 added to a Cisco 7500 chassis incrementally increases total system switching capacity — making it an ideal line card for high-density WAN aggregation, Internet edge, and service-provider core deployments.
Features & Benefits
High-Performance Distributed Switching
The VIP4-80's 250-MHz RM7000 RISC processor delivers 80% more distributed switching performance than the VIP4-50. With 150–210 kpps per direction, it handles multiple high-speed port adapters at full line rate — even while applying advanced Layer 3–7 services — so the RSP remains free for control-plane tasks.
Flexible Port Adapter Support
Two modular PA bays accept a wide variety of LAN and WAN port adapters, including Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Serial, Channelized Serial, Multichannel, HSSI, ATM, and POS. This mix-and-match flexibility lets you consolidate diverse media types into a single chassis slot, reducing inventory and simplifying operations.
ECC-Protected Memory Architecture
64 MB of ECC-protected packet SDRAM ensures data integrity during buffering and QoS queuing. CPU SDRAM starts at 64 MB and is expandable to 256 MB, providing the program memory headroom needed for large CEF tables and distributed IP services in complex routing environments.
Distributed Intelligent Services
Supports Distributed CEF, D-WRED, and D-CAR directly on the VIP, offloading forwarding decisions and QoS enforcement from the RSP. Distributed CEF proactively pushes route-table updates to the VIP, eliminating RSP queries for new destinations and improving performance in dynamic topologies like the Internet.
Incremental System Scalability
Each VIP4-80 inserted into a Cisco 7500 chassis adds 300–420 kpps of aggregate switching capacity to the system. This linear scalability model lets you grow network throughput slot by slot, matching investment to actual traffic demand without a forklift upgrade.
Deployment Scenarios
WAN Aggregation & Internet Edge
Deploy the VIP4-80 with dual OC-3 or OC-12 port adapters to aggregate high-speed WAN links at the network edge. Distributed CEF and D-CAR handle traffic classification and rate limiting locally, keeping the RSP focused on routing protocol processing.
Service Provider Core / POP
In service-provider points of presence, the VIP4-80's high switching throughput and broad PA compatibility support mixed ATM, POS, and Gigabit Ethernet uplinks. ECC memory and distributed QoS services ensure carrier-grade reliability and SLA enforcement.
Enterprise Campus Backbone
Large enterprise campuses running Cisco 7500 routers as backbone routers benefit from the VIP4-80's ability to host mixed-media port adapters — consolidating Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet connections into a single slot while maintaining high forwarding rates.
Legacy Network Maintenance & Sparing
For organizations maintaining existing Cisco 7500 deployments, the VIP4-80 serves as a critical spare or upgrade path from older VIP2 modules, delivering over twice the switching performance and bandwidth in the same single-slot form factor.
General
Processor & Memory
Performance
Interfaces & Expansion
Distributed Services
Management
Environmental
Compatibility
Compatibility Notes
Compatible Chassis:
- Cisco 7505
- Cisco 7507
- Cisco 7513
- Cisco 7576
Port Adapter Compatibility: The VIP4-80 accepts up to two Cisco port adapters (PAs) per module. Supported PA types include Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Serial, Channelized Serial, Multichannel, HSSI, ATM, and POS adapters.
EOL Notice: The Cisco 7500 Series Routers reached End-of-Sale on December 15, 2007. The VIP4-80 is no longer available from Cisco directly. Cisco recommended migration to the Cisco 12000 Series with SIP-401 modular engines as a replacement path.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| VIP4-50 | Cisco Versatile Interface Processor 4-50 | Uses 250-MHz RM5000 processor; 90,000–140,000 pps throughput — lower cost for less demanding deployments |
| VIP6-80 | Cisco Versatile Interface Processor 6-80 | Sixth-generation VIP with RM7000B controller and higher memory ceilings — next-step upgrade from VIP4-80 |
| VIP2-50 | Cisco Versatile Interface Processor 2-50 | Second-generation VIP with 400 MB aggregate PA bandwidth and lower packet memory — budget legacy option |