Adding 4 more ports tp Cisco PIX 515E

[silpion]

I have a Cisco PIX 515E unrestricted with 4 ports. I recently added another 4 port module.

Besides the fact that I never saw such a difficult to mount equipment (slot is sideways, the (now 2) modules only fit if I remove the first one, and slide them together into the slit, and luckily I have not a bulky hand or I would never be able to fit them into the slot unless I would dissassemble the entire PIX cover... And besides the fact that the firmware of PIX hasn't "autocomplete" feature for the CLI commands I would, at least, expect PIX to recognize the new 4 ports, which it doesn't.

The slot is properly fit, if I connect a cable to one of those 4 new ports, the lights turn on, but in the configuration the new ports do not appear. If I issue the command "interface ethernet6 auto" it accepts the command but it doesn't show on the config. If I issue the command "nameif interface6 intf6 security60" it does not accepts it...

Any clues on how to recognize those ports? 'cause I'm beginning to feel this PIX stuff is real good for use as a crash test dummy

 

[boymarty24]

If my memory serves me right pix515 only supports 6 interfaces ( 2 builtin and 4 port module )


Do a show version and have a look

 

[paradigmxp]

Here's a quote from the 515E data sheet:

Unrestricted Software License
The PIX 515E Unrestricted (PIX 515E-UR) model extends the capabilities of the family with support for stateful failover, additional LAN interfaces, and increased VPN throughput via integrated hardware-based VPN acceleration. It includes an integrated VAC or VAC+ hardware VPN accelerator, 128 MB of RAM, two 10/100 Fast Ethernet interfaces, and support for up to four additional 10/100 Fast Ethernet interfaces. The Cisco PIX 515E-UR also adds the ability to share state information with a secondary Cisco PIX Security Appliance (either in an Active/Active or Active/Standby deployment model) for resilient network protection.

Also, you may want to look at upgrading to the PIX SAS 7.x on your 515E. To go from 6.x (probably 6.3) to 7.x, you'll probably need to upgrade the memory from 64 MB to 128 MB. The 7.x version of the SAS offers auto-completion and a more IOS-ish CLI.

Here's a link to information on upgrading the memory: Cisco PIX 515/515E Security Appliance Memory Upgrade for PIX Software v7.0

Here's a link to information on upgrading from 6.2 or 6.3 to 7.0 (worked for me to 7.2): Guide for Cisco PIX 6.2 and 6.3 Users Upgrading to Cisco Security Appliance Software Version 7.0

Probably not what you wanted to hear, but it is better than spending more time on the impossible.

 

[silpion]

Thanks for the useful info you provided.