Cisco WS-X6724-SFP-3BXL
Catalyst 6500 24-port GigE Mod: fabric-enabled (Req. SFPs)
Product Highlights
What's Included
(1) MEM-XCEF720-1GB
As enterprise networks scale, line cards must deliver both port density and intelligent forwarding without overloading the supervisor engine. The Cisco WS-X6724-SFP-3BXL is a 24-port Gigabit Ethernet line card for the Catalyst 6500 Series that ships pre-equipped with the WS-F6700-DFC3BXL Distributed Forwarding Card and MEM-XCEF720-1GB memory — giving you distributed CEF forwarding right out of the box.
Built on Cisco's CEF720 architecture, this fabric-enabled module connects to the switch fabric for high-bandwidth, low-latency data forwarding across all 24 SFP ports. The DFC3BXL daughter card offloads Layer 2/3/4 forwarding decisions from the Supervisor Engine 720, enabling the overall chassis to scale aggregate forwarding performance. The DFC3BXL variant adds MPLS support, ACE counters, and the ability to handle up to one million IPv4 routes — making it well-suited for large-scale enterprise cores and service provider edge deployments.
Each port accepts standard Cisco SFP transceivers (sold separately), supporting 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX, 1000BASE-ZX, CWDM, and copper options for maximum cabling flexibility. Whether you're building out a campus access layer, aggregating data center server traffic, or extending metro Ethernet services, the WS-X6724-SFP-3BXL delivers the performance and routing scale your Catalyst 6500 chassis demands.
Note: This product and the Catalyst 6500 platform have reached Cisco End-of-Life status. It remains an excellent option for maintaining and expanding existing Catalyst 6500 deployments at a fraction of the cost of new equipment.
Features & Benefits
Distributed Forwarding with DFC3BXL
The included WS-F6700-DFC3BXL daughter card enables hardware-based distributed forwarding directly on the line card, offloading the Supervisor Engine 720 and dramatically increasing aggregate chassis throughput. The DFC3BXL supports up to one million IPv4 routes and 256-KB NetFlow entries, making it ideal for environments with large, complex routing tables.
MPLS & Advanced Services
Unlike the earlier DFC3A, the DFC3BXL adds native MPLS support and ACE counters at the line-card level. This enables service providers and large enterprises to deploy label-switched paths and maintain granular access control accounting without sacrificing forwarding performance.
Flexible SFP Connectivity
All 24 ports accept hot-swappable SFP transceivers, supporting fiber (1000BASE-SX, -LX, -ZX, CWDM) and copper (1000BASE-T) media types. This flexibility lets you tailor each port to the exact distance and media requirements of your deployment — from short-reach multimode in the data center to long-haul single-mode across a metro ring.
Fabric-Enabled CEF720 Performance
The module connects to the Catalyst 6500 switch fabric via a 20 Gbps channel to the Supervisor Engine 720, delivering high-bandwidth forwarding with deep transmit and receive packet buffers. Full duplex and jumbo frame support ensure efficient handling of large payloads common in virtualization and storage environments.
Quality of Service & Security
Hardware-based QoS with transmit queuing (1p3q8t) and receive queuing (2q8t with DFC) enables granular traffic prioritization for voice, video, and mission-critical applications. Hardware ACL support ensures line-rate security policy enforcement without impacting throughput.
Deployment Scenarios
Enterprise Campus Distribution / Core
Deploy the WS-X6724-SFP-3BXL in a Catalyst 6500 chassis at the campus distribution or core layer to aggregate uplinks from access-layer switches. The DFC3BXL's million-route capacity and MPLS support handle complex routing topologies, while 24 SFP ports provide flexible fiber connectivity to building IDFs.
Data Center Server Aggregation
Use this module to aggregate Gigabit Ethernet connections from top-of-rack switches or directly from servers. Jumbo frame support and deep packet buffers reduce latency for storage and backup traffic, while distributed forwarding keeps the supervisor engine free for management tasks.
Service Provider Metro Ethernet Edge
The DFC3BXL's MPLS capabilities and massive routing table support make this line card a strong fit for service provider edge deployments. Pair with CWDM SFP transceivers to deliver managed Ethernet services over metro fiber rings cost-effectively.
Maintaining & Expanding Legacy Catalyst 6500 Deployments
For organizations running existing Catalyst 6500 infrastructure, the WS-X6724-SFP-3BXL provides a cost-effective way to add high-performance 24-port GigE capacity with advanced distributed forwarding — extending the useful life of the chassis without a full platform migration.
General
Interfaces
Performance
QoS
Memory
Compatibility
Environmental
Compliance
Networking Standards
Compatibility Notes
Chassis Compatibility:
- Compatible with Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series chassis (6506, 6509, 6509-NEB, 6513) and Cisco 7600 Series routers
- Not supported in the Catalyst 6503 chassis
Supervisor Engine:
- Requires Supervisor Engine 720 (minimum IOS 12.2(17a)SX for base WS-X6724-SFP)
- DFC3BXL requires minimum IOS 12.2(33)SRA with Supervisor Engine 720
Transceivers:
- SFP transceivers are not included and must be ordered separately
- Supports Cisco 1000BASE-SX, 1000BASE-LX, 1000BASE-ZX, 1000BASE-T copper SFPs, and CWDM SFPs
Included Components:
- (1) WS-F6700-DFC3BXL — Distributed Forwarding Card 3BXL
- (1) MEM-XCEF720-1GB — 1 GB DDR DRAM memory module
Note: The DFC3BXL uses memory installed on the switching module. The included MEM-XCEF720-1GB provides the required 1 GB.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| WS-X6724-SFP | Catalyst 6500 24-Port GigE SFP (Base) | Base module without DFC daughter card — uses centralized forwarding via the supervisor engine only. |
| WS-X6748-SFP | Catalyst 6500 48-Port GigE SFP | Double the port density (48 ports) with deeper buffers — ideal when you need more ports per slot. |
| WS-F6700-DFC3BXL | DFC3BXL Distributed Forwarding Card | Standalone DFC3BXL daughter card — purchase separately if upgrading an existing WS-X6724-SFP to distributed forwarding. |
| WS-X6824-SFP-2T | Catalyst 6500 24-Port GigE SFP (Sup 2T) | Next-generation 24-port SFP module designed for Supervisor Engine 2T — higher performance ceiling for newer chassis. |