WAN Switching Control Card FAQs

Document ID: 15026

Questions

Introduction
How do I determine how long a BPX Broadband Controller Card (BCC) has been active?
What are the differences between RAM, BRAM, DRAM, ROM, and EEPROM? How are these components used on the BPX? How do PCCs or NPCs use them?
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Related Information

Introduction

For more information on document conventions, refer to the Cisco Technical Tips Conventions.

Q. How do I determine how long a BPX Broadband Controller Card (BCC) has been active?

A. The most accurate method is to locate the switchcc in the event log, or examine a StrataView Plus (SV+) log, if available. If these are not available, refer to Length of Time a BPX BCC Processor Has Been Active for a service-level command that you can use to calculate how long the BCC has been active.

Q. What are the differences between RAM, BRAM, DRAM, ROM, and EEPROM? How are these components used on the BPX? How do PCCs or NPCs use them?

A. This is an explanation of these different types of memory, with a discussion of the functionality of each:

RAM

A. Random-access memory (RAM) is volatile memory that can be both read and written by a microprocessor.

BRAM

A. The battery-protected RAM (BRAM) holds the configuration data for the node.

The processor card carries BRAM, which is used to hold all node configuration parameters. These include the event log of the node and the user-defined jobs in an operating node.

The processor control card (PCC) carries 256 KB of BRAM. The network processor card (NPC) carries 512 KB of BRAM and can hold up to 1 MB of BRAM, with a memory expansion factory upgrade.

DRAM

A. The dynamic RAM (DRAM) runs the system software for the node and is used as temporary data storage space. DRAM stores information that must be periodically refreshed. DRAM is inaccessible to the processor when it is refreshing its contents, and so it can cause delays during refresh. If the processor card loses power, the contents of the DRAM are lost.

The PCC can carry up to 8 MB of DRAM, depending upon the model of the card. The NPC can carry 16 MB of DRAM and can hold up to 64 MB, with a memory expansion factory upgrade.

ROM

A. The read-only memory (ROM) contains boot code. Upon insertion or power-up, the processor card begins to execute this code.

The purpose of the boot code is to perform self-checks of the processor card and to find and load the necessary online software on which the node runs.

The processor card carries 384 KB of ROM.

EEPROM

A. The electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) is used primarily to download system software. It can be erased and reprogrammed without the need to remove the processor card, which allows system software to be downloaded between nodes in the network and stored in non-volatile memory on the processor card. This permits the upgrade of software in an entire network without the distribution of new hardware to the field. The EEPROM holds a copy of the online code, which is copied into the DRAM after power-up.

The PCC carries 2 MB of EEPROM. The NPC carries 4 MB of EEPROM and can hold up to 8 MB, with a memory expansion factory upgrade.