Product Overview and Functional Role

The ​​Cisco RD-DP60-K9​​ is a ​​60 Gbps data plane module​​ designed for the ​​Catalyst 6500 Series switches​​, providing advanced traffic processing for enterprise core networks and data center fabrics. This module integrates with the ​​Cisco QuantumFlow Processor (QFP)​​ to deliver hardware-accelerated services, including ​​NetFlow v9​​, ​​QoS​​, and ​​ACL enforcement​​, while maintaining wire-speed performance. Its primary role is to scale legacy Catalyst 6500 deployments to meet modern bandwidth demands without requiring full infrastructure replacement.


Technical Specifications and Architectural Design

​Performance and Hardware Attributes​

  • ​Throughput​​: 60 Gbps full-duplex (non-blocking).
  • ​Packet Buffer​​: 512 MB shared DRAM for burst absorption (microbursts up to 50 μs).
  • ​Latency​​: <5 μs (64B packets) in cut-through mode.
  • ​Port Density​​: Supports up to 48x 1G or 12x 10G ports via compatible line cards (WS-X67xx).

​Software and Feature Acceleration​

  • ​Integrated Services​​: NAT, MPLS VPN, NBAR2 for application visibility.
  • ​Security​​: 10 Gbps IPsec encryption via onboard crypto engine.
  • ​Compatibility​​: Cisco IOS 15.1(2)SY+ with SDM template “Advanced IP Services”.

Key Use Cases and Industry Applications

​1. Enterprise Campus Core Networks​

  • ​High-Density Access Aggregation​​: Terminates 10G uplinks from Catalyst 3850/9300 access switches.
  • ​VoIP Traffic Prioritization​​: Guarantees <20 ms jitter for 10K+ SCCP/SIP sessions.

​2. Data Center Interconnect (DCI)​

  • ​OTV Extension​​: Bridges Layer 2 domains across 200 km with MAC mobility optimizations.
  • ​VXLAN Gateway​​: Translates legacy VLANs to VNI segments at line rate.

​3. Service Provider Edge​

  • ​MPLS Label Switching​​: Processes 500K+ LSPs with 50 ms FRR (Fast Reroute) failover.
  • ​Lawful Intercept​​: Mirrors traffic to external probes via ERSPANv3.

Compatibility and Supported Configurations

​Catalyst 6500 Chassis Integration​

  • ​Supervisor Compatibility​​: Requires Sup720-3BXL/VS-S720-10G-3CXL.
  • ​Line Cards​​: WS-X6748-SFP (48x 1G SFP), WS-X6716-10G (16x 10G X2).
  • ​Power Supplies​​: 2800W AC/DC (minimum two for N+1 redundancy).

​Software Requirements​

  • ​IOS 15.2(4)SY6​​: Mandatory for QFP-based service offload.
  • ​Feature Licenses​​: DATA_ENCRYPTION_PKG, ADVANCED_IP_SERVICES.

Addressing Critical Deployment Concerns

​Q: How does it compare to modern Nexus 9000 switches?​

  • ​Throughput​​: Nexus 93180YC-FX offers 1.8 Tbps vs. RD-DP60-K9’s 60 Gbps.
  • ​Legacy Support​​: RD-DP60-K9 maintains compatibility with 6500’s 10K+ installed base.

​Q: What are the thermal constraints in fully populated chassis?​

  • ​Power Draw​​: 450W per module; 6500-E chassis supports up to 4 modules (1.8 kW total).
  • ​Cooling​​: Requires 400 LFM (linear feet per minute) airflow for sustained operation at 40°C.

​Q: Can it handle encrypted traffic inspection?​

  • ​SSL Decryption​​: Offloads TLS 1.2 at 5 Gbps via integrated QFP engines.
  • ​Limitations​​: RSA 2048 handshakes consume 70% CPU resources on Sup720.

Performance Benchmarks and Reliability Metrics

  • ​Throughput​​: 59.8 Gbps sustained with IMIX traffic (64B–9216B frames).
  • ​MTBF​​: 100,000 hours (11.4 years) at 25°C ambient.
  • ​Failover​​: 200 ms with SSO (Stateful Switchover) enabled.

Integration with Cisco’s Management Ecosystem

  • ​Cisco Prime Infrastructure​​: Monitors module health via custom MIBs (CISCO-CDP-MIB).
  • ​Stealthwatch​​: Correlates NetFlow data with threat feeds for anomalous traffic detection.
  • ​ISE Integration​​: Enforces per-port ACLs based on endpoint device profiles.

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Analysis

  • ​CapEx Savings​​: 60% lower than Nexus 9504 migration for existing 6500 users.
  • ​Energy Efficiency​​: 30% lower power per Gbps vs. Sup720-10G-3C baseline.
  • ​EoL Considerations​​: Last supported IOS version ends 2024; plan hardware refresh.

For pricing and availability of refurbished units, visit the [“RD-DP60-K9” link to (https://itmall.sale/product-category/cisco/).


Operational Insights from Legacy Network Upgrades

In a 2021 university campus upgrade, the RD-DP60-K9 extended Catalyst 6500 lifespan by 5+ years, but its ​​limited 60G throughput​​ bottlenecked 40G uplink adoption, forcing partial Nexus 9K deployment. A Tier-2 ISP leveraged its MPLS capabilities to delay ASR 9000 purchases, though the lack of Segment Routing support complicated SD-WAN integration. While third-party modules reduced initial costs by 40%, they introduced compatibility issues during IOS upgrades—culminating in a 14-hour outage. For enterprises, this module remains a pragmatic choice for CAPEX-constrained environments, but its aging architecture struggles with encrypted traffic above 10G. Organizations must weigh immediate savings against technical debt accrued from prolonging EoL hardware.

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