Cisco 3600 Series User Manual

CHAPTER
Connecting Compression Network Modules to a Network 14-1
14
Connecting Compression
Network Modules to a Network
Note Compression network modules are supported in Cisco 3600 series routers only.
This chapter describes the compression network module for Cisco modular routers, and
contains the following sections:
• Compression Network Module on page 14-1
• Supported Interfaces on page 14-2
• Compression Network Module LEDs on page 14-3
This module provides hardware assistance to protocols that use compression and
decompression, reduces the load on the CPU caused by software compression, and
improves router performance.
Compression Network Module
The compression network module (Cisco product number NM-COMPR) does not provide
network interfaces of its own, but instead compresses and decompresses data passing
through interfaces on other network modules or WAN interface cards in the router. (See
Figure 14-1.)
Hardware compression is supported only over Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) links. The
compression network module supports only the Stacker compression algorithm.
Cisco IOS Release 11.3 allows Frame Relay compression support using the FRF.9
compression algorithm.

Cisco 3600 Series Specifications

General

Operating System	Cisco IOS
Series	3600
Type	Modular Router
Interfaces	Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Serial, ISDN
Routing Protocols	RIP, OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, IS-IS
Redundancy	Optional redundant power supply
Management	CLI, SNMP, Telnet
Weight	Varies depending on the specific model
Power Supply	AC or DC, optional redundant power supply