Contents

Introduction

Prerequisites

Requirements

Components Used

Network Diagram

Conventions

ICP (IMA Control Protocol) Cells

IMA Filler Cells

Configuration

Verify

Troubleshoot

Related Information

Introduction

Inverse Multiplexing over ATM (IMA) involves inverse multiplexing and de-multiplexing of ATM cells in a cyclical fashion among physical links grouped to form a higher-bandwidth and logical link. The rate of the logical link is approximately the sum of the rate of the physical links in the IMA group. Streams of cells are distributed in a round-robin manner across the multiple T1/E1 links and reassembled at the destination to form the original cell stream. Sequencing is provided using IMA Control Protocol (ICP) cells.

In the transmit direction, the ATM cell stream received from the ATM layer is distributed on a cell by cell basis across the multiple links within the IMA group. At the far-end, the receiving IMA unit reassembles the cells from each link on a cell-by-cell basis and recreates the original ATM cell stream. The image below displays how cell streams are transmitted across multiple interfaces and recombined to form the original cell stream. The receiving interface discards the ICP cells, and the aggregate cell stream is then passed to the ATM layer.

Periodically, the transmit IMA sends special cells that permit reconstruction of the ATM cell stream at the receiving IMA. These ICP cells provide the definition of an IMA frame.

Cell streams are transmitted across multiple interfaces and recombined to form the original stream.

Prerequisites

Requirements

There are no specific requirements for this document.

Components Used

The information in this document is based on these software and hardware versions:

- For Cisco 7200 series routers, the eight-port T1/E1 IMA port adapters are supported since Cisco IOS® Software version 12.0(5)XE, 12.0(7)XE, 12.1(1)E, and 12.1(5)T.

- For Cisco 7500 series routers, the eight-port T1/E1 IMA port adapters are supported on the following VIPs:

- VIP2-40 - since Cisco IOS version 12.0(5)XE, 12.0(7)XE, 12.1(1)E.

- VIP2-50 - since Cisco IOS version 12.0(5)XE, 12.0(7)XE, 12.1(1)E and 12.1(5)T.

- VIP4-80 - since Cisco IOS 12.2(1)T, 12.2(1), 12.0(16)S, and 12.1(7)E.

- For Cisco LightStream 1010 and Catalyst 8510 ATM switch routers, the eight-port T1/E1 IMA modules are supported since Cisco IOS version 12.0(4a)W5(11a) and require an ATM switch processor with a per-flow queuing feature card (FC-PFQ).

- For Cisco Catalyst 8540 ATM switch routers, the eight-port T1/E1 IMA modules are supported since Cisco IOS version 12.0(7)W5(15c).

The information in this document was created from the devices in a specific lab environment. All of the devices used in this document started with a cleared (default) configuration. If your network is live, make sure that you understand the potential impact of any command.

Network Diagram

This document uses this network setup:

Conventions

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

ICP (IMA Control Protocol) Cells

ICP cells are transmitted between IMA interfaces. These cells are used for decoupling and restructuring of ATM cell streams. The transmitting IMA aligns the sending of IMA frames on all links. This allows the receiver to adjust for any delays that may be experienced across the links. In the image above (it has been simplified for this example), the transmission is from left to right. However, this data and the ICP cells are sent in both directions. The receiver can therefore detect delay by measuring the arrival times of the IMA frames on each physical port. By default, each frame consists of 128 cells. As a result, one of every 128 cells is an IMA cell. Frame length is viewed with the show ima interface command.

Note: ICP cells are discarded by the receiving interface. Therefore, counter information does not display ICP cells. Please refer to ATM Control Cells Illustrated for a more detailed explanation ATM control cells.

IMA Filler Cells

An IMA device always sends a continuous stream. If no ATM layer cells are being sent, then an IMA filler cell is transmitted to provide a constant stream at the physical layer. Inserted filler cells allow for rate decoupling at the IMA sublayer.

Note: Filler cells are discarded by the receiver. Therefore, counter information does not display filler cells. Please refer to ATM Control Cells Illustrated for a more detailed explanation on ATM control cells.

Configuration

This document uses these configurations:

- c7200-IMA

- LightStream 1010-2

- Router-B

Follow these steps to configure the router labeled c7200-IMA:

1. Group the T1/E1 interfaces that you need. Note that the interface must be on the same port adapter.

2. Define any physical level parameters (if required). Scrambling would be one example.

3. Create an IMA interface and configure it with virtual circuits (VCs) just like you configure a standard, non-IMA ATM interface.

The IMA interface has the following syntax: interface atm x/imay where x is the slot number and y is the IMA-group number.

In the configuration below, only PVCs are configured.

c7200-IMA

hostname c7200-IMA

!

interface ATM1/0

no ip address

no ip directed-broadcast

ima-group 0

!

interface ATM1/ima0

no ip address

no ip directed-broadcast

no atm ilmi-keepalive

!

interface ATM1/ima0.1 point-to-point

ip address 100.100.100.1 255.255.255.0

no ip directed-broadcast

pvc 5/100

encapsulation aal5snap

ubr 600

!

interface ATM1/1

no ip address

no ip directed-broadcast

ima-group 0

!

interface ATM1/2

no ip address

no ip directed-broadcast

ima-group 0

!

interface ATM1/3

no ip address

no ip directed-broadcast

ima-group 0

LightStream 1010-2

hostname ls1010-2

!

interface ATM0/0/0

no ip directed-broadcast

lbo short 133

ima-group 0

!

interface ATM0/0/1

no ip address

no ip directed-broadcast

clock source free-running

lbo short 133

ima-group 0

!

interface ATM0/0/2

no ip address

no ip directed-broadcast

lbo short 133

ima-group 0

!

interface ATM0/0/3

no ip address

no ip directed-broadcast

lbo short 133

ima-group 0

!

interface ATM0/0/ima0

no ip address

no ip directed-broadcast

no ip route-cache cef

no atm ilmi-keepalive

atm pvc 5 100  interface  ATM0/1/0 1 40

Router-B

hostname Router-B

!

interface ATM5/1/0

no ip address

no ip route-cache distributed

atm pvc 1 0 16 ilmi

no atm ilmi-keepalive

!

interface ATM5/1/0.1 point-to-point

ip address 100.100.100.2 255.255.255.0

pvc 1/40

ubr 600

encapsulation aal5snap

These are additional considerations regarding this configuration:

- Traffic shaping parameters can vary based on your environment. Please refer to Understanding Router Support for ATM Real-Time Service Categories.

- Scrambling may or may not be required at the interface level depending on carrier configurations. Please refer to When Should Scrambling Be Enabled on ATM Virtual Circuits for more information.

Verify

This section provides information you can use to confirm your configuration is working properly.

Certain show commands are supported by the Output Interpreter Tool (registered customers only) , which allows you to view an analysis of show command output.

Use these commands to test whether your network is operating properly:

- show atm vc

- show interface atm 1/ima0

- show ima interface atm1/ima0

- show ima interface atm1/ima0 detail

- show controller atm 1/0

- ping

The output shown below is a result of entering these commands on the devices shown in the network diagram above. This output shows that the network is operating properly. Use the show atm vc command to display the PVCs and traffic information. As can be seen below, the PVC 1/500 is UP and using UBR with a Peak Cell Rate (PCR) of 600 kbps.

c7200-IMA# show atm vc

Peak  Avg/Min Burst

Interface   Name  VCD  VPI  VCI  Type   Encaps  SC  Kbps Kbps Cells Status

1/ima0.1    1     5    100   PVC  SNAP  UBR     600               UP

Use the show interface atm 1/ima 0 command to look for input/output errors. A large number of input/output errors means that the line is not clean.

c7200-IMA# show interface atm 1/ima0

ATM1/ima0 is up, line protocol is up

Hardware is IMA PA

MTU 4470 bytes, sub MTU 4470, BW 1523 Kbit, DLY 20000 usec,

reliability 255/255, txload 1/255, rxload 1/255

Encapsulation ATM, loopback not set

Keepalive not supported

Encapsulation(s): AAL5

2048 maximum active VCs, 1 current VCCs

VC idle disconnect time: 300 seconds

3 carrier transitions

Last input 00:01:24, output 00:01:24, output hang never

Last clearing of "show interface" counters never

Input queue: 0/75/0 (size/max/drops); Total output drops: 0

Queueing strategy: Per VC Queueing

5 minute input rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec

5 minute output rate 0 bits/sec, 0 packets/sec

464 packets input, 17320 bytes, 0 no buffer

Received 0 broadcasts, 0 runts, 0 giants, 0 throttles

0 input errors, 0 CRC, 0 frame, 0 overrun, 0 ignored, 0 abort

474 packets output, 17176 bytes, 0 underruns

0 output errors, 0 collisions, 0 interface resets

0 output buffer failures, 0 output buffers swapped out

Issue the show ima interface command to look for IMA failures. The output below shows that there are no falures, and that NearEnd and FarEnd are operational.

c7200-IMA# show ima interface atm1/ima0

ATM1/ima0 is up

ImaGroupState:    NearEnd = operational, FarEnd = operational

ImaGroupFailureStatus     = noFailure

IMA Group Current Configuration:

ImaGroupMinNumTxLinks = 1       ImaGroupMinNumRxLinks = 1

ImaGroupDiffDelayMax  =    250  ImaGroupNeTxClkMode   = common(ctc)

ImaGroupFrameLength      = 128  ImaTestProcStatus     = disabled

ImaGroupTestLink         = 0    ImaGroupTestPattern   = 0xFF

IMA Link Information:

Link                    Link Status                 Test Status

------         ----------------------------      --------------

ATM1/0         up                                disabled

ATM1/1         up                                disabled

ATM1/2         up                                disabled

ATM1/3         up                                disabled

c7200-IMA# show ima interface atm1/ima0 detail

ATM1/ima0 is up

ImaGroupState:    NearEnd = operational, FarEnd = operational

ImaGroupFailureStatus     = noFailure

IMA Group Current Configuration:

ImaGroupMinNumTxLinks = 1       ImaGroupMinNumRxLinks = 1

ImaGroupDiffDelayMax  =    250  ImaGroupNeTxClkMode   = common(ctc)

ImaGroupFrameLength      = 128  ImaTestProcStatus     = disabled

ImaGroupTestLink         = 0    ImaGroupTestPattern   = 0xFF

IMA MIB Information:

ImaGroupSymmetry           = symmetricOperation

ImaGroupFeTxClkMode        = common(ctc)

ImaGroupRxFrameLength      = 128

ImaGroupTxTimingRefLink = 0        ImaGroupRxTimingRefLink = 1

ImaGroupTxImaId            = 0     ImaGroupRxImaId            = 0

ImaGroupNumTxCfgLinks      = 4     ImaGroupNumRxCfgLinks   = 4

ImaGroupNumTxActLinks      = 4     ImaGroupNumRxActLinks   = 4

ImaGroupLeastDelayLink     = 3     ImaGroupDiffDelayMaxObs = 0

IMA group counters:

ImaGroupNeNumFailures      = 3     ImaGroupFeNumFailures   = 3

ImaGroupUnAvailSecs        = 2     ImaGroupRunningSecs     = 427185

IMA Detailed Link Information:

ATM1/0 is up

ImaLinkRowStatus = active

ImaLinkIfIndex   =    1            ImaLinkGroupIndex    = 51

ImaLinkState:

NeTx = active

NeRx = active

FeTx = active

FeRx = active

ImaLinkFailureStatus:

NeRx = noFailure

FeRx = noFailure

ImaLinkTxLid              = 0      ImaLinkRxLid              = 0

ImaLinkRxTestPattern      = 65     ImaLinkTestProcStatus  = disabled

ImaLinkRelDelay           = 0

IMA Link counters :

ImaLinkImaViolations      = 1

ImaLinkNeSevErroredSec = 32        ImaLinkFeSevErroredSec = 8

ImaLinkNeUnavailSec       = 543    ImaLinkFeUnAvailSec    = 0

ImaLinkNeTxUnusableSec = 2         ImaLinkNeRxUnUsableSec = 572

ImaLinkFeTxUnusableSec = 78        ImaLinkFeRxUnusableSec = 78

ImaLinkNeTxNumFailures = 0         ImaLinkNeRxNumFailures = 9

ImaLinkFeTxNumFailures = 4         ImaLinkFeRxNumFailures = 4

ATM1/1 is up

ImaLinkRowStatus = active

ImaLinkIfIndex   =    2            ImaLinkGroupIndex    = 51

ImaLinkState:

NeTx = active

NeRx = active

FeTx = active

FeRx = active

ImaLinkFailureStatus:

NeRx = noFailure

FeRx = noFailure

ImaLinkTxLid              = 1      ImaLinkRxLid              = 1

ImaLinkRxTestPattern      = 65     ImaLinkTestProcStatus  = disabled

ImaLinkRelDelay           = 0

IMA Link counters :

ImaLinkImaViolations      = 1

ImaLinkNeSevErroredSec = 1         ImaLinkFeSevErroredSec = 0

ImaLinkNeUnavailSec       = 0      ImaLinkFeUnAvailSec    = 0

ImaLinkNeTxUnusableSec = 2         ImaLinkNeRxUnUsableSec = 2

ImaLinkFeTxUnusableSec = 0         ImaLinkFeRxUnusableSec = 0

ImaLinkNeTxNumFailures = 0         ImaLinkNeRxNumFailures = 0

ImaLinkFeTxNumFailures = 0         ImaLinkFeRxNumFailures = 0

ATM1/2 is up

ImaLinkRowStatus = active

ImaLinkIfIndex   =    3            ImaLinkGroupIndex    = 51

ImaLinkState:

NeTx = active

NeRx = active

FeTx = active

FeRx = active

ImaLinkFailureStatus:

NeRx = noFailure

FeRx = noFailure

ImaLinkTxLid              = 2      ImaLinkRxLid              = 2

ImaLinkRxTestPattern      = 65     ImaLinkTestProcStatus  = disabled

ImaLinkRelDelay           = 0

IMA Link counters :

ImaLinkImaViolations      = 1

ImaLinkNeSevErroredSec = 1         ImaLinkFeSevErroredSec = 0

ImaLinkNeUnavailSec       = 0      ImaLinkFeUnAvailSec    = 0

ImaLinkNeTxUnusableSec = 2         ImaLinkNeRxUnUsableSec = 2

ImaLinkFeTxUnusableSec = 0         ImaLinkFeRxUnusableSec = 0

ImaLinkNeTxNumFailures = 0         ImaLinkNeRxNumFailures = 0

ImaLinkFeTxNumFailures = 0         ImaLinkFeRxNumFailures = 0

ATM1/3 is up

ImaLinkRowStatus = active

ImaLinkIfIndex   =    4            ImaLinkGroupIndex    = 51

ImaLinkState:

NeTx = active

NeRx = active

FeTx = active

FeRx = active

ImaLinkFailureStatus:

NeRx = noFailure

FeRx = noFailure

ImaLinkTxLid              = 3      ImaLinkRxLid              = 3

ImaLinkRxTestPattern      = 65     ImaLinkTestProcStatus  = disabled

ImaLinkRelDelay           = 0

IMA Link counters :

ImaLinkImaViolations      = 1

ImaLinkNeSevErroredSec = 1         ImaLinkFeSevErroredSec = 0

ImaLinkNeUnavailSec       = 0      ImaLinkFeUnAvailSec   = 0

ImaLinkNeTxUnusableSec = 2         ImaLinkNeRxUnUsableSec = 2

ImaLinkFeTxUnusableSec = 0         ImaLinkFeRxUnusableSec = 0

ImaLinkNeTxNumFailures = 0         ImaLinkNeRxNumFailures = 0

ImaLinkFeTxNumFailures = 0         ImaLinkFeRxNumFailures = 0

Note: It is a good idea to check the controller to verify that is it up and that there are no alarms reported.

c7200-IMA# show controller atm 1/0

Interface ATM1/0 is up

Hardware is IMA PA - DS1 (1Mbps)

Framer is PMC PM7344, SAR is LSI ATMIZER II

Firmware rev: G114, ATMIZER II rev: 3

idb=0x621903D8, ds=0x62198DE0, vc=0x621BA340, pa=0x62185EC0

slot 1, unit 1, subunit 0, fci_type 0x00BA, ticks 414377

400 rx buffers: size=512, encap=64, trailer=28, magic=4

Curr Stats:

rx_cell_lost=0, rx_no_buffer=0, rx_crc_10=0

rx_cell_len=0, rx_no_vcd=827022, rx_cell_throttle=0, tx_aci_err=0

Rx Free Ring status:

base=0x3CFF0040, size=1024, write=432

Rx Compl Ring status:

base=0x7B095700, size=2048, read=464

Tx Ring status:

base=0x3CFE8040, size=8192, write=476

Tx Compl Ring status:

base=0x4B099740, size=4096, read=238

BFD Cache status:

base=0x621B52C0, size=5120, read=5119

Rx Cache status:

base=0x621A0D00, size=16, write=0

Tx Shadow status:

base=0x621A1140, size=8192, read=463, write=476

Control data:

rx_max_spins=2, max_tx_count=17, tx_count=13

rx_threshold=267, rx_count=0, tx_threshold=3840

tx bfd write indx=0x10DF, rx_pool_info=0x621A0DA0

Control data base address:

rx_buf_base = 0x4B059E60           rx_p_base = 0x62199300

rx_pak    = 0x621A0A14                 cmd = 0x621990A0

device_base = 0x3C800000        ima_pa_stats = 0x4B09D860

sdram_base = 0x3CE00000       pa_cmd_buf =    0x3CFFFC00

vcd_base[0] = 0x3CE3C400         vcd_base[1] = 0x3CE1C000

chip_dump = 0x4B09E63C          dpram_base = 0x3CD80000

sar_buf_base[0] = 0x3CE54000  sar_buf_base[1] = 0x3CF2A000

bfd_base[0] = 0x3CFD4000         bfd_base[1] = 0x3CFC0000

acd_base[0] = 0x3CE8CE00         acd_base[1] = 0x3CE5C800

pci_atm_stats = 0x4B09D780

fdl is DISABLED

Scrambling is Disabled

Yellow alarm is Enabled in Rx and Enabled in Tx

linecode is B8ZS

T1 Framing Mode:  ESF ADM format

LBO (Cablelength) is long gain36 0db

Facility Alarms:

No Alarm

To test connectivity, we ping from one end of the 7200 router to the other end (router B) and ensure that the pings are successful. Failure in the pings indicates that the IMA ports or IP addressing may be configured wrong.

c7200-IMA# ping 100.100.100.2

Type escape sequence to abort.

Sending 5, 100-byte ICMP Echos to 100.100.100.2, timeout is 2 seconds:

!!!!!

Success rate is 100 percent (5/5), round-trip min/avg/max = 4/6/8 ms

Troubleshoot

There is currently no specific troubleshooting information available for this configuration.

Related Information

- Inverse Multiplexing for ATM (IMA) Frequently Asked Questions

- Inverse Multiplexing for ATM (IMA) Technical Support

- Multiport T1/E1 ATM Port Adapters with Inverse Multiplexing over ATM